Fred Astair's Famous Tap Dance Drum Solo

This is the great Fred Astair. I'm not sure of the copyright but it's pretty old. 1937 I think. Great finish and nice syncopated accents and fills. Not for drum snobs.

[@nhmooytis7058]

How did he THINK of these ideas? "Hey guys how about I play drums with my hands AND my feet and tap dance?" "Go home Fred, you're drunk." Then he does it.

[@Muck006]

It isnt as easy to do either, because you have to fix those drums to the floor or else they will move with each kick. It cant be easy to have such a setting for practice (which there was probably a lot of ... until they managed to find a sequence that is doable physically AND sounds good.

[@williamt2700]

One guy in the back: "How 'bout a couple of cowbells?" Also wanted to point out he worked in a little break to sit on the drum as part of the set 😂

[@nhmooytis7058]

@@williamt2700 everything’s improved by more cowbell.

[@Khamomil]

One genius who was never surpassed. One of the most talented humans of the pasr century, and his exquisite elegance a delight.

[@monkface]

I've made the claim that he was the greatest entertainer.

[@chananahar992]

we also have Sammy Davis, Jr. 😀

[@lanecountybigfooters5716]

His rhythm and coordination are just astonishing. Lovely!

[@thebormannfamily5572]

1937. Let that sink in. 86 years (‘23) Has anyone replicated anything of this level (one take, ingenuity, creativity & skill) since? This was originality at its peak.

[@codycooley6978]

Look at some of my stuff

[@LI3TOM3]

nope no one on the planet will be a better dancer entertainer than Fred Astair.even in 2024 he would be brilliant :)

[@Musicman2012Now]

How is this even humanly possible?! What a great talent he was. Thank heavens we have films to remember him. For those of you out there yearning to become famous by some goofy post on Facebook or wherever...here is how you REALLY become famous! Work very very hard at a skill and become the best at it. Then if you still crave the fame, it will come automatically and not from some silly social media fame that we have nowadays. (OK...I'm off my soapbox now.)

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

True. And a lasting admiring joy.

[@Muck006]

You have to be good at MORE THAN ONE THING ... because he was good at dancing AND at coming up with these routines. There are probably many more skills too.

[@gispel7058]

And dressed with respect for himself and his audience. Not stomping around the stage with his pants falling down and hat on sideways talking TALKING about killing bitches and hos and cops

[@traceyjackson2646]

I read that he did this in one continuous shot. Amazing xx

[@monoped8437]

practice

[@GodsOnlyGospel]

The absolute master of dance

[@rebeccamassingham9015]

I fell inlove with him and Ginger Rogers when I was 10yrs old. I'm now 50 😊

[@carlyg1969]

I’m still Amazed and here I am again Fred Astaire is just amazing

[@fractionstein]

one take, not cuts - AMAZING ARTIST!

[@udkline]

This clip is a treasure! Obviously the talent is incredible. But it shows so many artifacts of early 20th century drumming: the Asian (probably Chinese) drums, the low boys, the cowbells. It is such a time capsule and I love it.

[@SylviaBergenHenegouwen-wt5ty]

And that's why hè the greatest of all times!!

[@SylviaBergenHenegouwen-wt5ty]

Silly phone, he's the greatest😅

[@theonetruerobb4852]

FA had the timing and rhythmic playfulness of a Jazz drummer. The drums in this piece are just a logical extension of his style. Always a pleasure watching, and hearing, this man...

[@SteveonLI]

damsel in distress 1937, wiki says: Astaire tap solo, executed while confined by and playing a set of drums. It was shot in one continuous take.

[@Khamomil]

That's what I was thinking. No way this solo could have been pieced together.

[@keepcalmandcarryon8934]

This piece is a piece of ART. I'm fifty. I really hope some of the youngest generation love and remember all those (fugitive and brilliant) dancers and singers.

[@Muck006]

Sadly ... NO ... they get flooded with cheap and "industrially produced" entertainment AND they have been taught to scoff at stuff that "isnt 4K".

[@yioryaras]

It is not often unique talents of art like Fred Astair, the master of time rhythm movement singing and acting, sharing their natural gifts with the world and this clip it is a priceless honour to all of us lucky ones watching it.

[@silverlakeas]

A genius is in the room. Oh do I wish he was around today.

[@MareShoop]

He’d be 122 ❤️

[@silverlakeas]

@@MareShoop and still so cool.........

[@VARAWK]

His spirit lives through all the young folks who aspire to his level today!

[@lenhummel5766]

Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly: the true genius of dance and choreography❗ and they will never be surpassed.💖💛💖🎯✔

[@liberte5847]

A great drummer player he was to, an amazing artist. Bravo! I'm french and I DO love that incredible Fred Astaire. Emmanuel from Paris

[@stpaulimdog]

I remember seeing this as a kid. Still the most amazing dance sequence ever. It's hard as hell to even stand in tap shoes much less kick things and keeping your balance while doing it.

[@RayMond-tp6ty]

Best dancer ever.

[@danielpowell5661]

Genius…The incomparable Fred Astaire

[@felipeduarte4015]

Simply the best dancer ever.

[@othoglenadams]

The coolest cat ever!

[@ded591]

All in the family

[@tuftycupid8721]

Mjau I guess...

[@tiesword3252]

FASCINATING......ELEGANT.....

[@alealelucy]

Words cannot express my admiration and ecstatic delight! He was an absolute divine genius! Top elegant, creative and performing! ❤

[@flatitata]

He's so brilliant

[@genez429]

This gives new meaning to what us drummers call "heel to toe" technique? ;)

[@seabgb]

Good one.

[@nealgoates6237]

One of the most talented men ever on the silver screen!

[@harleyosborne45]

Drummer: Finally, I hit the big time! He can't do everything! Fred: Don't worry, I got this.

[@ange9663]

Love Fred Astaire my favourite, just fabulous ⭐🤩

[@adannoes]

Amazing.... this guy was simply amazing

[@Muck006]

He was a workaholic / perfectionist ... which made him as good as he was.

[@bmaggio]

The greatest tap dancer (and drummer) ever! 👏👏👏

[@paulineg20024]

He is amazing 😍

[@jeffstevens7765]

Absolute Magic

[@rayjonest.v7258]

Whole all of the dances were great time and time again greatness come from the heart

[@Kingaki34]

I've read about a Harlem tapper named Eddie Rector, The Boy in Grey, being the originator tapping on the drum..... this is so wild... so good!

[@Justentime77]

GENIUS!

[@robbiemayes8252]

What has happened to our. America? They were the best generation ever. Makes me sad that my generation the 60s produced what we have now very sad. Man i get lost in these old movies classy real patriots real Americans. They loved our country

[@ericbradley3743]

Robbie Mayes ,m

[@nhmooytis7058]

Us boomers blew it 😐

[@estersaintdeclassified]

Great movies, great dancing and great memories!

[@patrikadolfsson121]

"Study The Greats and become greater" - Michael Jackson

[@SheilaRough]

Producer: Fred, you can’t play the drums and tap dance at the same time Fred Astaire: Hold my martini and hand me my tap shoes & drumsticks

[@robertoavila9999]

Genius!!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!

[@patricialor8187]

what a talent this Man

[@displaychicken]

I tried this at Guitar Center and got arrested

[@josepmapintobarcons9664]

I

[@jennifersuzannebk5149]

You must of sucked at it. Lol they let me play.

[@rosemma34]

lololol

[@lrn_news9171]

That cracked me up hahahaha

[@carlohera4315]

It's just BRILLIANT!

[@Gongthusiast]

That was Awesome!!!!

[@Eurocub]

Rhythm in his DNA. Fantastic.

[@salvatorefallica7451]

unico nel mondo nessuno lo puo imitare il maestro dei maestri il grande Fred astair's

[@carlyg1969]

Such a fun cool performance

[@jaapvandertuuk9307]

Seen this before,but again:WOW!

[@huandru]

How does he hit both drums at the same time here! 1:52 Wow!

[@joefagan6244]

Happy birthday Fred

[@jamesdarling5559]

easily one of the best performances caught on camera

[@strangerinthehampton]

Born 1899, the WWI generation, the actual greatest generation. WWI were the company supervisors making the WWII weapons and MacArthur and the generals were from WWI.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Ah neat! I saw his bedroom solo yesterday!

[@killercrabman]

What a pro!

[@mariorizzotto6243]

OLTRE CHE UN GRANDE BALLERINO E' ANCHE UN PERFETTO BATTERISTA

[@jaapvandertuuk9307]

And from what planet are these 20 persons not liking this?

[@MrMikerk]

Magic

[@Kelly-fk3oi]

Fred Astaire makes hi-hats low-hats was the first to air drum and takes the term kick drum literally.

[@carlotaelenamartinezbricen11]

Magistral

[@justinm4111]

My God

[@stupidcheeks]

Absolutely perfect

[@MorbidBliss22]

hubba hubba zing zing baby, he’s got everything!

[@471500829]

AMAZING!!!!!

[@tuftycupid8721]

How. How. How!?

[@gypsijo]

✨Splendidly magic that only Frank can pull off w:/such class ! 💜🤘🏼🥁👣

[@atomak]

who is Frank?

[@2012Darkknightrises]

Amazing!

[@britneel2008]

I'm pretty sure drummers don't play the drums anywhere close to this...drum snobs maybe about foot damage to drums, but the tempo kept with hand and feet and jumps, kicks, turns, step ball etc... just mad talent unique unto itself

[@ted123810]

"I can't figure out why I go through so many drum heads"

[@Hadassah635]

😂😂😂😂

[@animalgerhard]

I gotta start doing that!!!!

[@SuperStonehands]

Somebody posted this from the comments section of the Sacrificial Scene from the Rite of Spring. We certainly DO have a deep well of culture in the USA with which to continuously refresh our minds- if we choose to!

[@Deathbird_Mitch]

The control to kick hard enough to make sounds but not put his foot through the thin drum heads.

[@johnjdevlin2610]

I read where the lovely Joan Fontaine was ensconced inside one of the drums.

[@juniorjohnson9509]

Those drums must have been bolted down to the floor!

[@robertslagle7176]

at '37 ir still predates the Carlos Chavez Toccata for Percussion by 4 years.

[@croenan]

The movie is one of my favorites. Recommend if you can find it.

[@user-jc6ky6db7s]

好浪漫❤

[@stretch-fd4dg]

I would say that Fred Astaire's tap dancing skill is on the same level as Gregory Hines

[@nhmooytis7058]

stretch4859 Gregory Hines said the most awesome dance number HE ever saw was the Nicholas brothers!

[@Dixie64ful]

Einfach Genial

[@radioheadtv3131]

So smooth he could get any girl

[@boa1793]

“Give you totly wildcats.”

[@MrSumpfdrache]

I always thought, it was Jerry Lewis, who did this fantastic drum-tap solo. Maybe he just made his own version of it, but I can't find it onYT

[@mariadoloresfuentes4488]

Buenísimo.

[@jennifersuzannebk5149]

I'm not sure what to make of it. Lol my mom would say JENNIFER..... Stop that

[@mcpainting6923]

❤

[@joefagan6244]

Feed and his dancing shoes.

[@michaela.2261]

Thank God for video, todays music is fake.

[@MrZillas]

Did you guys realize, that this is UNCUT? ...So what do you do? Do you need 1 take or do you need 30-50 takes?

[@keithmoon3190]

I don't know how Keith Moon would do this, but maybe he might end up kicking the drums away after the song...

[@verdiernoyama9681]

Fred Astaire is too good at dancing. Sometimes the way he taps his feet on the drums makes it feel like a cartoon, as for example at 3:25 or at 3:30. He is a monster.

[@alejandrobonelli9507]

LA BATERÍA,DE PARA VIENES

[@alejandroblanco2071]

Savage

[@larry12345]

now i wonder how long it too him to rehearse that

[@YouzTube99]

+LiveDrumDrive His whole life! He started dancing when he was only five years old and never stopped.

[@heywhycantihavemorees132]

Isn't his name spelled Fred Astaire?

[@jackneefus]

More cowbell!

[@astridkleinsprokkelhorst3041]

Nice work if you can get it......

[@jedrekk49]

Astair był z pochodzenia Polakiem ale nigdy się do tego nie przyznawał bo sie wstydzil

[@msg63bretired82]

It’s nothing. Just talent.

[@alejandropizarro3970]

Yo queriendo comprarme una batería y él agarrándolo a patadas, qué injusticia 😞

[@sirpeetthelittle]

that had to have left some scrapes on the taps