[Dixielandjazz] Beverly Getz McGovern on Buddy Rich

[Harry Callaghan]

I've got a recording of Getz sitting in with Woody Herman's orchestra where
he is featured on that delightful melody, "What Are You Doing Molesting My
Wife"

HC


On 2/27/10, Norman Vickers <nvickers1 at cox.net> wrote:
>
> 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--
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>


-- 
Music you grew up listening to
Or when we're done you'll wish
you grew up listening to.

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