Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A jazz drummer and bandleader, renowned for his virtuosic drumming and leadership of big bands.
On the island
Eight records
The first, and this is a story, Roy, about in the early 30s when I was just starting to listen to various jazz people, jazz bands. One of the first impressions I ever had was with Ray Noble, who was in the States at the time.
Well, one of my favorite people, not only my favorite talent, but one of my favorite friends, great artist, great sensitivity, Tony Bennett.
My third record is with my favorite lady singer. and uh has been since I was fortunate enough to see her. At the Apollo Theater in New York, the very first time I think she won an iMetro contest, she had just left Chick Webb's game.
Well, here's an all-time genius. This is truly a legend. This gentleman has done more for progressive music, for modern jazz, if you will. I think he's every trumpet player's idol. And of course I'm talking about Miles Davis.
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
When my daughter was born and that's twenty five years ago The first music that she ever heard when I had her room fixed up at home and we brought her home from the hospital. was Frank singing in the wee small hours of the morning. And it's remained my favorite lullaby throughout the years.
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
Record number six is the greatest jazz clarinet player in the history of music. My very favorite man on clarinet. And uh this is a particular piece of music that I I discovered years ago by Benny. It's really uh much more modern.
Seven DreamsFavourite
A beautiful piece of music. It's a story. It's singing, it's music, it's an idea, it's called seven dreams. And I think I discovered this when it first came out. It got to me. It's so sensitive, it's so funny, it carries every facet of music in it.
Well, this is my my inspiration to life, I think. This man has done more for me and I think more for anybody who was ever interested in taking up the art form of jazz, and that's Count Basie.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:31How would you feel about settling down for a while on a desert island?
Well, if it was only for a while, Roy, I could probably uh tolerate that. But to give up the career And think about a serious retirement. Uh that's the farthest thing from my mind at this point.
Presenter asks
3:10What sort of act did [your parents] have?
Well, I can't give you an accurate description, but my dad was a blackface comic and dancer. Yes. My mother was a singer. ... and they used to bring me out of the finale of their act. To stand up behind a kit of drums and play.
Presenter asks
6:07Had anybody ever taught you drumming, or are you entirely self-taught?
I think that at the age of two it would be very difficult to teach and because I pay attention to things. I listened to so many pit drummers at my early age who played great vaudeville shows that I learned a great deal from them. But I've never been to a school. I've never had a particular drum teacher.
Presenter asks
The keepsakes
The book
Pauline Réage
That's all I suppose. All right. If you have to be alone, you might as well take all with you.
How did you get on with [Frank Sinatra]?
The first year we got along beautifully. ... Well, then I think he started to believe his publicity. And we had to we had to make a left turn along the way someplace.
Presenter asks
10:07What job did they give you [in the United States Marines]?
Whatever it was, I hated it, even though it was the biggest mistake of my life. ... the minute I got into camp I realized that that was probably the most stupid thing that I've ever done in my life. I look back at those years as being something horrendous.
Presenter asks
26:03Tell me about this observation [of a UFO].
The band had just closed in uh Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel. And I was driving back to Los Angeles that morning, about four in the morning. My wife and I were in the car. I had the top of my car down, a jaguar, and um I caught a glimpse of this very bright light at a tremendous speed. ... and about a minute later This light came by about at a thousand feet, I would imagine. and just buzzed right over my car and made two direct passes over my car and disappeared.
“I hold a black belt in karate. Yes. And I still work out. And rather than sit in the house and listen, I would rather do something that keeps me in physical shape.”
“I've never been to a school. I've never had a particular drum teacher. And so as I got older, my talent evolved and I suppose I got better.”
“I prefer my audience to listen to what I do rather than see what I do.”
“I firmly believe that uh they're out there trying to tell us to straighten up and start living together in peace.”