From 1978 from Great Britan. Michael Parkinson welcomes Sammy Davis and Buddy Rich. Buddy and Sammy discuss the state of music and live performances followed by quite a jam session.
My late husband was a drummer and a very good one. He absolutely idolised Buddy Rich. Said the same thing. There wasn't a drummer in the world could compare to him. He was quite simply the absolute best.
So Buddy and Sammy we're headliners!! So in a certain frame of time in our lives we got to see so much talent and the genius that came through so much in every one of them, we almost didn't realize how fortunate we all were to actually have them in our lives and grow with them!! It's really hard to put into words because the talent is still matchless to this day!! I sometimes refer to them as the battle horses. There was no one before them!! I'm going to go out on a limb and say Amen, God bless and we all still love you to this day. Thank you🙏❤️😇
I sincerely miss all those guys. Who doesn't still love the rat pack?! How about when they roasted each?! There was a lot of love, a lot of laughs. Each one had their own identity and each one had love and respect for the other. I truly do miss all that wonderful entertainment😇❤️🙏
I was 16 when I met Buddy and Sammy back stage at the palladium I’m 61 now . Sammy said the exact words to me Turn up on time keep yourself smart and clean and play to the best of your ability that’s all you need to do Kid , those words stuck with me all my life I have been a pro Drummer for 43 years . Love these guys . I also have both autographs on my Birth certificate that’s the only piece of paper I had on me at the time . RIP legends xx 34:35
I was lucky enough to meet him once, see him twice, and watch the "ghost" band abot six after his death at the Blue Note, NYC. Me and my little sister cornered Anita O'Day going upstairs of the Blue Note and were asking her about the olden days. We told her we were fans from Maine. Anita was wicked nice to us because we were young (I think) and we were, and are, jazz afficionados for life.
Not only are these two legends articulate and intelligent, then they get on stage and are completely brilliant, we will never see the likes of people with this caliber of talent in our lifetime
In my humble opinion Buddy was always the de facto 6th member of the Rat Pack. His talent, humor and gravitas fit perfectly with Sammy, Dean, Frank and the boys. What an awesome show of mutual admiration here. Thanks for posting!
This is a wonderful interview of these consumate professionals. I also want to praise Michael Parkinson in that he always allows his guests to fully answer.
Amen. That's a gift that Mr Parkinson shared with Johnny Carson, and one that is rare these days; the ability to listen to a guest. Let them go when it's time, then bring the conversation back to a center, and use their offerings to inform the next insightful, engaging question. I miss that capacity in some of today's interviewers, many of whom seem to be more concerned with their next joke, and not the responses of their invited guests. Listening has become a sadly devalued skill. OK, end of curmudgeonly sermon. Cheers!
Buddy was as good as a stand up comedian as anyone . Besides being the best drummer in the world. God rest his soul. Met Buddy many times, always let me on the bus,it was a gas.
What a wonderful interview! I can't imagine such a serious interview about MUSIC occurring on mainstream TV in any recent decade. Thank you to all concerned.
This is pure GOLD!!! Sammy was the consummate professional!!! You notice how he took control as a band leader and just made everyone so comfortable playing!! You can see the mutual respect,confidence and trust both of them had with each others performance!!! Never to be heard and seen again in living colour by these two pioneer GIANTS!!!….I only wish Mr. Davis would have tapped danced in this performance and traded fours with Buddy….That would have brought the house down!!!!
I was lucky to see Sammy times over the years. The best was at Caesars in October 1977 I believe. He was informed two hours plus and took requests!! He was WON of a kind and eventhough he is gone, his music will live forever. RIP Sammy. You are gone but not forgotten.
Haven't seen this since it aired, had a audio tape of it and know it inside out, great to see it once again. Went to R. Scott's Club most every year to see Buddy. What times and music they were. THX for sharing
The world's greatest entertainer says Buddy Rich is the best. That makes it so. Nobody would or could know better than Mr. Davis. Except Mr. Sinatra. But he said it too
No argument from me. Nobody...ever...will come close to Buddy. He could be critical of anyone he chose, and for good reason. Buddy Rich played with the greatest musicians of all time, making some of the greatest music ever heard. As the saying goes "It ain't bragging if you can back it up". He did.
Sammy and Buddy knew an essential truth I once heard expressed by another musician. (I paraphrase, but closely): My partners in the audience made a choice; they spent their hard-earned money on a ticket to my show, often months in advance. They've been looking forward to this night ever since. Some drove for many miles, hired babysitters, maybe went out for a budget-busting dinner, and even took the next day off - likely without pay. That's who's in the seats when I go out to play. If someone buys a ticket to my show, it's as if I shook their hand, and promised them my best job. They worked hard to get here, and I damn well better honor that by working as hard as I can hard for them as well. Sammy and Buddy understood this pact with their audience. Let's have fun, and let's all share the room.
Buddy could be the kindest, greatest, guy to you, or the biggest jerk, depending on what mood he was in. Buddy was brutally honest, to a fault. But if he liked you, you were golden.
Two of the world's the great showmen at the top of their game. I saw Buddy Rich at Ronnie Scotts a year after this interview. Still the greatest concert I have ever been to. And Buddy and Sammy were right about commitment and perfection in the sense they owed it to the audience who had paid their hard earned money to see them. Good to hear performers who truly understand it.
They were probably another drummer’s kit set up for them. They were obviously tuned for whoever that was, because as great as Buddy was, those drums did not sound like him. They were very flat and muffled sounding.
Buddy would not have sat down at a random kit on TV. It's obvious that they were not his regular drums, but he would have checked them out and made adjustments before air time. He simply made the best out of what was there.
I agree, Roy. These muffled, boxy-sounding rock drums were not Buddy's type at all. Still, his amazing technique and musicianship made it work. Of course, Sammy was thrilling as always.
Sammy couldn’t put those cigarettes down even then his voice started to get gravely as great as a performer he was too bad. We lost him at such a young age and buddy what can you say about him the world’s greatest drummer. The guy that is leading his band today Greg Potter I’m sure buddy would be proud that he’s leading the Buddy Rich band.
No!! You must not know anything about Buddy!!! He is rolling in his grave listening to that freak with the look Buddy despised!! Knowing he is trying to drive his band would have surely given him a massive coronary if he was still alive today!!…Terrible player!!!!!
When I was just starting drums, my teacher told of Buddy playing one-handed in front of Jo Jones, who jokingly said afterward, “When that arm heals, they should break it again!”
1:55: it’s 2024. Buddy remains the greatest drummer to ever live, and he’s been dead almost 38 years. I’m privileged to have spent some moments with him - even if one of those moments was a gig where he spent the entire set screaming “PLAY THE F_CKING TIME!!” at the unfortunate piano player.
There's always been a great deal of talk about Sinatra (and rightly so) but for me; he was nowhere near Sammy Davis Jr dancing aside the latter was vocally superior.
