4. Buddy Rich
Watch this. Big band and Jazz legend Buddy Rich is generally regarded as the worlds greatest drummer and he has undoubtedly influenced every player on this list. Utterly faultless technique coupled with unmatched musicality made Buddy Rich more than just a drummer; he was a showman extraordinaire, not above performing tricks to delight his captivated audience. Gifted at birth, Rich was performing as a band leader at the tender age of 11 and claimed to be entirely self-taught. Inventive, fluid, powerful and blessed with phenomenal speed and groove, there are simply too few superlatives to truly do justice to his unique talent.