RARE!!! - Fred Astaire playing the drums in his bedroom 

Since people have asked if he plays the drums in any of his movies. Yes! - A Damsel in Distress (1937) - Easter Parade (1948) - Daddy Long Legs (1955) And he also plays them in his TV show Another Evening with Fred Astaire (1959)

That's amazing, he plays drums just like he dances. The same rhythm, pauses, breaks, taps etc.

Watching Fred Astaire do anything makes me smile.

Fred was a rare talent. Rhythm was in his DNA; he spoke with rhythm, moved in rhythm and even gestured with rhythm.

Back then, an actor needed to know how to do many things: Dance, sing, play instruments, act etc., Astaire was amazing!

Dancing, drumming, living, Fred always looked like he was just having fun.

His "time" is great, and he's very interesting-more interesting than most drummers. He also sang better than most singers. Simple, direct and IN TUNE!

I didn't know Fred Astaire was a drummer. However, I'm not surprised, given the sense of rhythm one must have to be as great a dancer as he. He has a marvelous sense of rhythm. His approach (at least demonstrated here) reminds me alot of Gene Krupa. Thanks for sharing this video.

Have been living on earth for 61 years and didn't even know this man could play drums as such. Oh my!

When you have rhythm, timing and talent it comes out in more ways than one.

He drummed just like he danced. Amazing!

I am not surprised that he can play the drums. He had that magical timing as a dancer. His feet and hands were golden!

good drummer and pianist , dancer far beyond , singer , actor ....he did every thing perfect ! he was out of this world !

Fred is forever alive.

Imagine the talent that has come and gone on this earth.

Wow! His hand motions were like his feet motions. He is 100% rhythm. What a magical person Fred Astaire was. I wish there were great people like he was today.

I'm not a musician and this era of music is decades before my time, but watching many drummers from the 40's to the late 60's or so, a common trait I've picked up on is the better ones excel at subtlety ... knowing when to play and knowing when to sit back, when to be loud and when to dial it back. No unnecessary fills or cymbal work but throwing in neat little off time flairs that fit perfect. I like the rock drummers, but it all started here. It's easy to spot the influences that live on to this day.

Class act all the way...what a talent...No one could equal Fred Astair.

Fascinating! It’s all dancing to him. Even the drums. Impressive.

I should say, that was a little more than banging away. Timing: good. Feel: real good. Chops: darn fine. Way to Go Freddie!

Wow! What a wonderful rare clip! thanks for sharing this.

When movie stars truly had talents. God givenly blessed.

when i was a kid my friend had a set of drums and i would go over to his house and we would take turns playing along to records like the beatles, ventures etc. it was alot of fun. fred astaire sure liked it too.

His timing dancing is so great, no wonder he knows how to play the drums. Never knew he could play drums.

Learned something new about Fred Astaire, what an incredible talent

What an amazing talented man!

Fred’s entire body melded with a stage to become a beautiful instrument of motion. No one will ever be as good as Fred Astaire.

So much more musical than most of today's drummers. He plays clear ideas and leaves space in between them.

It makes sense that a great dancer would have the rhythm to play the drums.

I understand that he and Hermes Pan would actually work with a drummer while perfecting their movie dance numbers. Plus he could play piano. And hit golf balls flawlessly while tap dancing. Or dance with a hat rack. The guy was simply magical and that's all there is to it.

Fred Astaire was great & a man of many talents. It was needed & required in hollywood's golden age.....unlike today.

In the movie, Daddy Long Legs, Astaire's first appearance in the film sees him exactly playing the drums to a jazz album!

"joy" is the operative word! How little of that we give ourselves. What the hell is wrong with humans???

Notice the left foot on the high-hats keeping time independent of the hands and right foot - that is the sign of a good drummer and many modern drummers struggle to do that.

That man is a genius.

Incredibly relaxed, and his timing was amazing - clearly from his dancing skills. That was superb.

"I hit everything in sight" lol

When someone can do something and do it well, they don't have to strike a match alight or fire a cannon ball shot. No wonder he was one of the greatest male dancers ever lived. Those hits and rolls are directly in step with his graceful nimble moves on the dance floor!

I cannot watch this without a smile on my face. Such joy.

Tap Dancing and Drumming go hand in hand Just remember the drum legend Buddy Rich was tap dancing with his parents vaudeville act. and all that experience with dancing and drumming paid off

Wow, his talent for rhythm and grace flows through his feet and to his fingertips. That was a real joy to watch and listen to.

He had rhythm, who could ask for anything more.

Fred Astaire a wonder never to be repeated. Once in a lifetime human being.

Crisp and smooth with a touch of flair... just like his dancing.

He was the very best and no one will ever fill his shoes when it comes to his dancing skills. That was great.

He plays drums with the same feel as his dancing. Excellent.

He has fun and enjoys it and it's wonderful

Ive been in love with Fred ! sense grade school . I'm 62 now and still in love. Look at his beautiful smile while hes playing. Makes him even more handsome. Thats a real smile, not the Hollywood one. Gonna watch this 2 more times and go to bed Happy :)).

You can see and hear Gene Krupa in his playing, both in the way he leans into the drums, as Gene did, and in his clever fills and constant use of the toms.

He played drums like he was dancing. Talented man he was.

Fred was sure a multitalented superstar, and a very decent person...the like of which we will never see again.

Grew up watching Fred Astaire movies. Loved every dance step and every song. He always chose great dance partners too. To this day I've never seen another performer dress as well and carry himself as classy as Fred Astaire. ⚘⚘⚘⚘⚘

You should see him play piano! Shit..that Cat was super talented.

That was adorable

such an awesome kit, great drumming too. Amazing. It was pretty rare to see a 5 piece setup like that back then!

Fred is the living incantation cool, suave, debonair, sexy and charming. He's got more Swagger and his pinky then Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Sean Connery all put together. As a drummer we all know that if you can't dance you shouldn't play the drums. All good drummers are good dancers they go hand-in-hand. So seeing this is not surprising except that we actually get to see it. I have never been star struck by anybody but it must have been nice to be friends with Fred Astaire seems like it would always have been a good time. No wonder all the actresses who worked with him all fell in love with him. Thank you for this post can never get enough Fred.

"I'm drum crazy, yes I'm drum crazy, yes I'm plumb crazy for drums..." (see: Easter Parade)

I'm a drummer, and I used to think Fred Astaire may be the coolest cat ever, now I'm sure of it.

I couldn't have coped with the past year without my stack of Fred and Ginger dvds.

Oh man this is brilliant! How much joy he's having! Now it makes sense where he got that hot timing as a dancer, that cunning little cheeky beats, same as his dance steps, heck, he's dancing when he's drumming. What a great talent and what a joy to see him enjoy the simple things in life. Thanks for the upload. L.

Fred was dripping with talent! Never going to be anyone close to him again!!

I barely even know who Fred Astaire was but I absolutely loved this!

The quiet giggle from the interviewer at 1:49 just kills me. Fred is just amazing. "His relaxing corner" - 🤣

The man had immaculate rhythm and flare, to be able to just pick up the sticks and adlib along with some fairly complex jazz and look so relaxed and at ease, so good to watch and listen.

Talented genius & a very nice man.

Dude has more swing than 99% of rock drummers.

Beautiful old Ludwig kit. Fred was great dancer and talented drummer. He had rhythm coming out of his ears, and swing I. Shoes

It's all that jazz in his soul. Wonderful performance. Super talent

Like a great magician

Even his drum set could dance. Truly a rare talent

That man had swagger. Respect.

His timing is impeccable like his dancing his drumming far surpasses many of the great legends he would’ve been one of the top drummers in the world to this day even. a phenomenal talent from God

Are you Fred's family? I'm a fan since I was a child. I'm from Spain. I love it. He was a genius and a wonderful man. 💖💖💖💖💖😘😘😘😘

I express my thanks for sharing. I hope more amazing episodes from Person to Person will be found, I have interest to se Mae West and Tyrone Power's episode.

Playing an instrument and dancing are just forms of expressing the soul. What you feel inside. Which is why for him they seem so closely alike. True expressions of an amazing artist. 🎶🥁🤍 The biggest performance you'll ever do is the one for yourself.

Love this!! Man has Rhythm and not just dancing but I loved how happy it made him while he played … pure joy

Little did he know in a few short years he would star in the most accoladed TV program in history.

dancing on the drums.....on the floor......in the world.....some people are born in time.

hahah, he is great! joy for wathing and listening!

I like his singing and his dancing…and I had no idea that he was so passionate about playing the drums! Truly inspiring man he was, and the inspiration goes on long after his earthly life!

He was so talented.

He was so talented I wish I would have been able to meet him but I was born in the wrong Era lol

Super smooth Fred Astaire was a badass

Master of timing; dance & 'kit'. Thanks for sharing.

If you haven’t seen him in Holiday Inn, you are missing an example of his true genius. His 4th of July dance is classic.

Some of you will get this, and fellow drummers especially will. Carter Beauford, drummer with the Dave Matthew's Band, says in an interview, that dancers make great drummers, foot-wise. He tells of a story where he saw B. Rich playing live (viewing him side-on) and his bass pedal strap broke during playing. Without missing a beat, Rich dropped a hand down, pulled back the bass pedal, and then used the balance of his foot, to keep the bass pedal moving. Rich is now playing the bass drum with NO return action on the bass pedal. With no return action or spring, the pedal essentially can only sit flat against the bass drum head after you kick it down once. Beauford explains that Rich studied tap dancing, and because of that, he was able to strike the right weight, speed, and balance to keep the bass pedal in constant action because of his foot sensitivities, action, and muscle development. While I am not a huge fan of Rich's ego, I do admire THAT, with genuine awe!

Love seeing people playing the drums

Fred had a sense of rhythm like no one else, he was astonishing!

When you can dance with your feet, you can dance with your hands!!

Not bad at all. Actually his "off" time fills were in sync with the hihat. Obviously using older techniques like the cross stick thing and hitting the hihat rod, but it works well in the context of the music.

I learned something new today. That was COOL! thanks.

We shall never see such class again in America and it hurts to know that.We are Rome.

I love you Fred

Thought it was going to be a joke at first,no joke he can play very impressed

Rhythm in his bones, blood, and DNA. What grace!

Long ago I saw a video of Fred dancing with drumsticks bouncing them off the floor and catching them with no mistakes...it was incredible! Great man!

That was great! Another dancer/singer who was a good drummer was Sammy Davis Jr. 🤘❗

Come on. So sick. And that swagger he walks with at the beginning. come on.

I watched this remarkable entertainer displaying his talent and then I think of the unremarkable, talentless 'entertainers' we have today... I would go back to the good old days in a heartbeat...

Incridible from Belgium...Thanks