Drum Stick, used by Buddy Rich

Object Details

Rich, Bernard "Buddy"

Balter, Mike

Description

This drum stick was made by Mike Balter in Prospect Heights, Illinois, early 1980s. It is a 5A drum stick, made of hickory. This drum stick is stamped:

MIKE BALTER 5A

This drum stick is from a drumset used by Buddy Rich in 1983-1987.

Bernard "Buddy" Rich (1917-1987) began his professional career as a drummer, tap dancer, and singer with his parents' vaudeville act before the age of two. By the time he was six, "Traps, the Boy Wonder," had performed on Broadway and toured the United States and Australia.

With the demise of the vaudeville circuit and the popularity of the swing era, Buddy became an orchestra musician. His talents as a drummer landed him a job offer with Joe Marsala's band at the Hickory House in New York City in 1937. This led to a long line of high-profile performances with Bunny Berrigan, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Carter. Buddy's playing style was characterized by phenomenal speed, four-way independence, and an uncanny way of driving a big band.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Cathy and Marie Rich

early 1980s

ID Number

1988.0665.19

accession number

1988.0665

catalog number

1988.0665.19

Object Name

drum stick

Physical Description

hickory (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 16 in x 5/8 in; 40.64 cm x 1.5875 cm

place made

United States: Illinois, Prospect Heights

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Percussion

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_607072

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-48c0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa