Drummer once called "world's fastest" still going strong at 84

From CNN Chicago Bureau Chief Jeff Flock

He's played drums since he was 5...with all the greats: Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby. With pals Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, Barrett Deems was considered one of the three greatest drummers of all time. Krupa and Rich called him the world's fastest.

But this isn't a story about what Barrett Deems did. It's about what he does.

He's 84...and while he may look it, he sure doesn't sound it. He still does at least one gig a week in a Chicago jazz club, still fronting a big band. "I've had a wonderful career and I'm happy, said Deems. "A lot of people say you're getting old but you can still play, pretty fast for an old man. So, well, if I live to be 100, I'm gonna play."

Barrett Deems (163K/7 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Has he ever played. His legendary drumming speed was featured in the 1956 film "High Society" with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong. During the 1950s Deems was the drummer in Armstrong's band. Because of Deems' high energy and 15-cup a day coffee habit, Armstrong used to say "Barrett Deems makes coffee nervous."

Click here to see a video clip from High Society featuring Bing Crosby and Barrett Deems (14 sec. Quicktime/657 KB), From MGM/UA.

Along with drumming giants Krupa and Rich, Louie Bellson--still playing himself in his 70s--was influenced by Deems. So were younger jazz fusion drummers like Paul Wertico. "To be able to sit down and play the drums, and be able to think that fast for one thing, and then be able to execute the stuff that fast, that is really amazing," Wertico said. "I bow down."

The secret? Practice--every day. "No drugs, no booze, no pills, nothing," Deems said. It also doesn't hurt to be, as he puts it, "hyper, that's what the doctor said, he's hyper."

Still hyper, after all these years. A legend, alive and well and playing in Chicago.

For more on Barrett Deems, including background, audio and video clips of Deems in action, click here to go to the CNN Chicago Bureau website.

Other Related Sites

Barrett Deems' homepage

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