[Dixielandjazz] Beverly Getz McGovern on Buddy Rich

[Norman Vickers]

To:  Musicians and Jazzfans list; DJML
From:  Beverly Getz McGovern via Norman

How nice to have communication with one directly connected to  Buddy Rich.
Beverly Getz McGovern sends this personal recollection.
For those not yet acquainted,  Beverly is daughter of late saxophonist Stan
Getz.  She joined the Musicians and Jazzfans list a month or so ago. You
will recall that she sent us that lovely You Tube video of Stan playing
"Lush Life." She also maintains a Stan Getz website.
Thanks, Bev---



-----Original Message-----
From: stangetzllc at optonline.net [mailto:stangetzllc at optonline.net] 
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 8:53 PM


Hi Norman!

I've been trying not to respond to this, but once again I find that I can't
let this pass without sharing my thoughts... A little!

While I don't know if this story about Buddy is fact, fiction or a little of
both, I  find it hard to understand why its always the not so nice tales
that seem to get all the air time. Not that this tale is all that
derogatory. Compared to the "Stanley" tales, this is very tame! Still, it
makes me a little sad that folks seem to enjoy the salacious stories and
don't often (enough) relate the more positive.

I worked for Buddy as assit. road manager and also sang with the band. I was
very close with the Rich family. While I saw first hand that Buddy could be
difficult, cranky and pretty tough on his side men, he was also good to
them, cared and took an interest in any personal difficulties any of them
may have had and was very generous, not only materially but generous of
spirit as well. Its always difficult to work with/for a perfectionist. Buddy
was absolutely that. It was his band, his charts, his pocket and his name
and he demanded what he wanted and how it was presented to an audience every
single performance. You were definitely going to catch his wrath if you gave
less than he expected. It wasn't a pleasant experience. But that was Buddy. 
Having said all that, I would like to share a story about the Buddy that I
knew. This is just one example of many. 

We were in London and one day a collect call came in for Buddy from Philly
Joe Jones from the States. I guess Joe was going through a rough time and a
bit down on his luck. He needed a drum set. Without hesitation, Buddy told
him "Absolutely. I have a set of white pearl that I can lay on you. I'll
arrange to have them brought to you as soon as I hang up the phone". The
comical part of this story was that Joe's only response was..."White pearl?
No way man, I can't be playin' white pearl. I need black pearl." Buddy
started laughing really hard at that point! He told Joe, "sorry man, I've
only got the white set"! Buddy had the set sent to Joe. Never asked for them
back. He was just happy he could help. That's the kind of heart he had. You
only had to ask and Buddy would be there for you.

I so wish that those bus tapes didn't exist. That garbage is so not the
legacy that Buddy left us. Is it?

Thanks for letting me contribute a little to this thread. I'd like to think
that I might honor Buddy's memory a tad with some of the more positive and
loving attributes that he possessed.

Please forgive any typos, etc. I'm typing this on my blackberry as I'm
presently without electricity.

Best,
Bev
-___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________

Norman writes:  Sympathy, Bev.  Presumably your loss of electricity relates
to the snow/ice storm which hit the northeast.  Hoping  you're warm and cozy
soon.

Yes, as I understand it, the Rich "Bus lecture" tapes were intended to be
circulated among the current and former band-mates.  I confess, I haven't
listened to them even though they're available on You Tube.

Talented persons can also have  flaws.  The Betty Vickers (Mrs. Norman
Vickers)  theory of personality states that for each personality strength
there is an equal and opposite flaw.  As I go through life, it seems that
this theory has some validity-- think Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Benny
Goodman, for example.

Thanks, Bev.						--End--