Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich [Paperback]

Mel Torme (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

Now back in print, this bestseller by Mel Torme is a brilliant biography of his friend of forty years, Buddy Rich, who was one of the most famous drummers of the Swing Era, having starred in the Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey bands. His career started when he was two years old in his parents' Vaudeville act, and by the time he was four he was the highest paid child performer in the world. The Buddy Rich story is a fascinating one, as much for what it says about the world of American music and entertainment as for the remarkable life it portrays. Drawing from interviews and many personal reminiscences, Torme packs this biography with vivid, often funny, anecdotes. His personal touch and his in-depth knowledge of jazz make for a moving, insightful, and often hilarious biography. 233 pages, 6-1/2 inch. x 9-1/2 inch. Softcover

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Singer/author Torme ( The Other Side of the Rainbow ) here tracks the career of his longtime friend, from the days when child prodigy Buddy Rich (called Traps, the Drum Wonder) amazed vaudeville audiences with his talent until his death from a brain tumor in 1987. One of the greatest drummers of all time, Rich had a complicated and abrasive personality, and even his 45-year friendship with the author had its ups and downs. Though Torme was often the butt of Rich's abuse and practical jokes, he apparently never wavered in his affection for him, and writes with sympathy and admiration. The book does not gloss over Rich's troubled relationships, however--battles with Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey and other musicians, stormy marriage, disastrous financial affairs--and succeeds in capturing the drummer's complex personality as well as in characterizing his musical genius. Rich cooperated on the autobiography up until his death. in 1987. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Singer Torme here celebrates his friend, the late Rich, who was one of the most famous and explosive jazz drummers. Known for his abrasive personality and virtuosity, Rich achieved fame drumming for Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey while enjoying a feud with Frank Sinatra and courting actress Lana Turner. In this first full-length biography, Torme expands on chapter-length tributes by Whitney Balliett ("Super Drummer") and Burt Korall ("Drummin' Men"). Torme tries to be objective yet describes nearly every Rich performance as "especially good" and fails to mention that, although Rich was a virtuoso, other drummers have been at least as innovative and influential. Nevertheless, this will appeal strongly to fans of Rich and big-band jazz.
- Paul Baker, CUNA Inc., Madison, Wis.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 233 pages
• Publisher: Rebeats Press (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888408022
• ISBN-13: 978-1888408027
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #698,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Jazz

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real treat for drummers and non-drummers alike., December 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich (Paperback)

Being a big fan of the late Buddy Rich, I was searching for a book that not only chronicled his life, but gave me insight into the legend. This book did it all. I could not put the book down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys drumming, jazz or just a good biography. Hats off to Mel Torme. His book is wonderful.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fair-Minded Biography of the Greatest Technical Drum Soloist Ever, August 6, 2006

By 

The Johnarchist's Cookbook "John" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich (Paperback)

Mel Torme is not a genius of prose or of the biography genre, but he isn't unreadable either, and literary standards these days are low anyway. Besides, Mel Torme KNEW Rich for much of Rich's life. Buddy Rich asked Torme to write a fair biography, and that is what Torme has done. If you want to learn about the life of the greatest technical drum soloist of all time, this is the book to buy. I like the pictures, too. (How's that for genius in prose?)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Enjoyable, March 21, 2008

By 

Peter O. Swanson (Marshfield Hills, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Traps - The Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich (Paperback)

I have been in awe of Buddy Rich's musicianship since hearing him live at "Lennie's on the Turnpike" in MA back in the sixties. He could 'suggest' a melody during his solo's better than any drummer I've ever heard (in 62 years). Mel Torme's biography is just fine at portraying Buddy Rich.
Read it and judge for yourselves!