Words from a Legend
 

I recently read an article in Modern Drummer that centers around the Bassist's perspective on Buddy Rich and the things that went on during his time touring with him. One of the topics that caught my eye from this article deals with Buddy Rich's opinions on Jazz and Country music during the 50's. "Buddy has his thing against country and western music". "In the 50's, when country and western was starting to be popular, Buddy said in an interview somewhere that it was a plot by radio programmers to keep people--especially white people--from listening to jazz. He said it was a racist plot to replace jazz with white-bread cornball music. He actually got some death threats for that."

I found these quotes interesting, and I just wanted to know peoples opinions on this matter.

never thought of it like that.......then again i dont like jazz or country and im not old enough to have experienced much...

Rich is an amazing musician and he never had any formal training whatsoever. He might have a point....

It seems such a wild thing to say, which makes more it believable...would'nt surprise me in the least.

well seeing that he is talking about the 50s it wouldnt shock me. Lots of "conspiracys" against blacks were taking place back then.

And the death threats don't surprise me either...