I think at one time every drummer wanted to play like Krupa or wanted to win a Gene Krupa drum contest. This is the big inspiration for drummers and naturally it has to be the same way for me.

In the early fifties Rich played with Dorsey and began to perform with trumpeter Harry James an association which lasted until 1966. Well he knocked me right out.

Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30 1917 – April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader.