Slingerland Aerial Tom Tom, used by Buddy Rich
Object Details
- Description
This drum was made by Slingerland in Chicago, Illinois, around 1938-1940. It is an Aerial Tom Tom, Radio King Series, with a wood ply shell covered with a White Marine Pearl finish, metal hoops, and 6 key tension self-aligning separate tension lugs. There is a medallion on the shell:
SLINGERLAND
RADIO KINGS
BUDDY RICHThis drum is from a drumset used by Buddy Rich in 1983-1987. The drumset was put together, restored, and given to Buddy Rich in 1983 by Mr. Joseph MacSweeney, owner of the Eames Drumshell Company of Saugus, Massachusetts.
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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- Date made
- 1938-1940
- ID Number
- 1988.0665.04
- catalog number
- 1988.0665.04
- accession number
- 1988.0665
- user
- Rich, Bernard "Buddy"
- maker
- Slingerland Musical Instrument Manufacturing Company
- Object Name
- drum
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 14 1/2 in; x 36.83 cm
- overall: 10 1/4 in x 14 1/4 in; 26.035 cm x 36.195 cm
- place made
- United States: Illinois, Chicago
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Percussion
- Record ID
- nmah_606990
