Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30 1917 Brooklyn, New York - April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed.

Buddy Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He is widely considered to be one of the best drummers of all time, known for his technique, speed, and power. For most of the period from 1966 until his death, he led a successful big band in an era when the popularity of big bands had waned from their 1930s and 40s peak. His most popular performance was a big band arrangement of the Leonard Bernstein classic West Side Story. In the early 1970s he commented upon how odious he found the eme