ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER
Buddy Greco Jr. has been playing music for many years. He started playing the drums at the age of 3 and got his first Ludwig kit at the age of 6, he started playing the guitar at the age of 10 and the bass at the age of 11. He also started writing songs at the age of 10. Buddy’s mother was an opera singer, and his father is the world-renowned Buddy Greco, an amazing jazz singer and pianist. He was known as one of the greatest ever. He was a member of the Rat Pack and played on the same bill as the Beatles at the Royal Variety show for the Queen of England. This began his lifelong friendship with George Harrison. He had the number one hit at the time which was The Lady is a Tramp.
It was obvious that Buddy Jr. grew up in a very musical family. Buddy’s parents divorced when Buddy was very young and so he grew up in a very working class, suburban area, in a modest home with his mom in Farmingdale, Long Island.
Buddy Jr. was a session drummer in the 1990’s. In 2006 Buddy’s dad built a jazz club in Cathedral City. Buddy moved out to California in 2008. Buddy’s dad originally did not think he could perform with him because he did not read music. Buddy, Jr. was a rock and roll musician who did not read music, so originally his dad never even considered he would be able to play with him. He was blown away when he came back from his British Tour and Buddy Jr. had learned 50 of his songs, with his bass player Danny Flahive, while he was gone. He immediately let his original drummer go and took his son on tour with him. Buddy started touring with his dad all over Europe, Canada and America.
Natalie Cole and Don Rickles were Buddy Jr.’s babysitters when he was little. Don Rickles called Buddy the hockey puck.
Growing up Buddy Jr. played with several bands in the 80’s and 90’s performing his original music. He made some independent films with all his original music he wrote, and he also made a few albums and did a couple radio shows as well. Eventually, Buddy’s dad moved to England and Buddy stayed here and formed the band Hotwyre. The original line up of Hotwyre was the house band at the Rivera during 2015. That ended in early 2016, so the current band is Doug Phillips, Tim High and of course Buddy. They are playing everywhere in the Coachella Valley.
In 2020 and 2021 Buddy was flying back and forth to New York on the weekends and started recording tracks and put down 10 tracks with Tiki Recording in Glen Coe, Long Island. He laid down drum, guitar and bass tracks.
David Burnal owns Palm Springs Vinyl and has a record label. It is Hollywoodland Records and he offered Buddy Jr. a 2 record deal. Buddy plays all the instruments except lead guitar, and he sings lead on some songs and all the harmonies. The lead single is ‘It Takes Heart” and Buddy sings lead on that track. This CD is called “OUT OF THE SHADOWS”. There are 10 originals and a surprise 11th track that includes Buddy playing a song with his dad.
You can find Buddy Jr.’s CD on Amazon, at Palm Springs Vinyl Records, and any Hotwyre shows. Buddy has had some book deal offers and a possible show about Buddy and his dad, so be on the lookout for these possibilities!
Follow Buddy Greco Jr. on Facebook under: Buddy Greco Jr.
Think March to the Beat of Your Own Drums!
