Celebrating 100 Years Of Buddy Rich

Featuring Cathy Rich, Gregg Potter, and Chad Smith
In conjunction with the year-long centennial celebration of Buddy Rich, the GRAMMY Museum invites you to a special evening to commemorate the life and legacy of the iconic award-winning drummer. The evening will feature an intimate Q&A featuring Cathy Rich, the only child of Buddy; Gregg Potter, the drummer for the current incarnation of the Buddy Rich Band; and Red Hot Chili Peppers/Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith. The conversation will be followed by a special performance.

Born in New York in 1917, Buddy Rich, whom Gene Krupa defined as “the greatest drummer to ever draw breath,” was honored with a President’s Special Merit Award from the Recording Academy; induction into the Downbeat magazine, Modern Drummer and Playboy Halls of Fame, and the Palm Springs Walk of Stars; five GRAMMY nominations; the Jazz Unlimited Immortals of Jazz Award; numerous reader’s polls; awards for his philanthropic efforts; and he was named the World’s Greatest Drummer by Modern Drummer. He rose to fame playing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, where he met lifelong friend Frank Sinatra, who gave the eulogy in 1987 at Rich’s funeral.  Rich toured around the globe, performing for millions of fans and numerous world leaders including the King of Thailand, King Hussein of Jordan, Queen Elizabeth of England, and U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. After her father’s passing, Cathy Rich devoted herself to preserving the legacy she was born into. It was her father’s wish to keep his band and music alive for young people in future generations, and it has been her mission to make sure that wish comes true.