Buddy Rich's astounding career began when he was merely 18 months old, performing percussion for his parents' vaudeville show, and his accomplishments only spiralled further from there. While drummers were traditionally far from the spotlight, Rich led his own big band with a larger-than-life sound that matched his outspoken persona. Whether he was turning a jazz standard like "Love for Sale" into a furious barn burner, or egging on Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie for an all-star bop session on the fleet "Bloomdido", his style was a once-in-a-lifetime blend of superhuman precision and pure, unbridled energy.