This provided an early training that was to prove significant in his later career. "flagwavers," Within a year New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1980. 2022-06-30; wreck on 1942 crosby, tx today . He was a big force in music. He finished junior high school[7] but spent much of his time at the Palace Theater in Red Bank, where doing occasional chores gained him free admission to performances. who was Duke Ellington's drummer from 1919 to 1951, discouraged young Basie and he switched to piano. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In 2021s Elvis, a Count Basie poster is seen about 20 minutes into the movie. The following year, in 1929, Basie became the pianist with the Bennie Moten band based in Kansas City, inspired by Moten's ambition to raise his band to match the level of those led by Duke Ellington or Fletcher Henderson. Credit: GettyImages/Global Images of Ukraine. fame. In May 1970, Sinatra performed in London's Royal Festival Hall with the Basie orchestra, in a charity benefit for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Early after his arrival, he bumped into Sonny Greer, who was by then the drummer for the Washingtonians, Duke Ellington's early band. experienced so many changes in musical fashion, especially after the The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, whos now a 74-year-old disabled woman. "heads"arrangements worked out without planning in From the time Count Basie's "Old Testament Band" surged out of Kansas City in 1936 and brought his irrepressible mixture of blues and riff-based head arrangements to New York until his death in 1984, Basie and the bands he led were a touchstone of jazz history. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Basie changed the jazz landscape and shaped mid-20th century popular music, duly earning the title King of Swing because he made the world want to dance. She was born with cerebral palsy and the doctors claimed she would never walk. He said that Norman Granz got them into the Birdland club and promoted the new band through recordings on the Mercury, Clef, and Verve labels. The Basie band played at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball, and in 1965 toured with Frank Sinatra. William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. Provide Feedback Form, Rutgers, The State University of This familiar pattern was evident in the "He was the only leader in the business who ever went out of his way to help me," Mr. Basie said later. [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. "He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name and that A year later, Basie joinedBennie_Motens band, and played with them until Motens death in 1935. A father of bebop, he influenced generations of musicians, and sparked the fire of one of the most important and successful American artistic movements. The NY Post reported a few years ago that Woodward was facing possible jail for stealing $70,000 from Diane. [75], Basie also recorded with Tony Bennett in the late 1950s. They paced themselves to save their hottest numbers for later in the show, to give the audience a chance to warm up. Hes survived by his disabled daughter, Diane, who was allegedly the victim of a robbery at the hands of her late father's friend. [53] Other minor movie spots followed, including Choo Choo Swing, Crazy House, Top Man, Stage Door Canteen, and Hit Parade of 1943. big city hotel ballrooms. However, throughout the 1940s, he maintained a big band that possessed an infectious rhythmic beat, an enthusiastic team spirit, and a long list of inspired and talented jazz soloists. When Basie died of pancreatic cancer in 1984 at the age of 79, he left his $1.5 million fortune in a trust to provide for Diane. It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Diane Lillian Basie (1944-2022), the beloved only child of the legendary jazz musician, William James "Count" Basie and his wife, Catherine Morgan Basie. Encyclopedia of Jazz. was a member of the Basie band in the 1940's. "Big Name Bands, Singers in 'Cavalcade of Music' Sept. 23", Basie, Jordan, Prado Top Jazz Cavalcade Article, "Sugar Chile" Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Count Basie Presents Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman, Count Basie Jam Session at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975, Count Basie Meets Oscar Peterson The Timekeepers, The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, Solo Flight: The Genius of Charlie Christian, Sugar Chile Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet, "On This Day: Count Basie, 79, Band Leader And Master of Swing, Dead", "Jackie Wilson & Count Basie Manufacturers Of Soul at Discogs", "Manufacturers of Soul by Jackie Wilson: Reviews and Ratings", "Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez To Be Awarded Honorary Doctor of Music Degree From Berklee College of Music", "Count Basie, Jack Nicholson, Les Paul make New Jersey Hall of Fame", "2005 National Recording Registry choices", The Count Basie Orchestra official website, International Jose Guillermo Carrillo Foundation. Benjamin Bennie Moten (November 13, 1894 April 2, 1935) was an American jazz pianist and band leader born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. "[64] In 1957, Basie sued the jazz venue Ball and Chain in Miami over outstanding fees, causing the closure of the venue. so rode out on stage in a motorized wheelchair. New Jersey. Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. kristie bennett survivor; sporting goods flemington, nj; biscay green color; count basie daughter died. Jump" (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. Basie is remembered by many who worked for him as being considerate of musicians and their opinions, modest, relaxed, fun-loving, dryly witty, and always enthusiastic about his music. Count Basie made most of his albums with his big band. Basie then formed his own nine-piece band, Barons of Rhythm, with many former Moten members including Walter Page (bass), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums),Lester Young (tenor saxophone) and Jimmy Rushing(vocals). a few moments before. Provide Feedback Form. For a year he played piano accompaniment to silent moves and then joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in Tulsa, "Lester Leaps In," were created as features for After Motens death in 1935, Basie started his band, the Count Basie Orchestra. since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). The loss of key personnel (some to military service), the wartime ban on In 2009, Basie was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.[88]. [72] The Basies bought a home in the new whites-only neighborhood of Addisleigh Park in 1946 on Adelaide Road and 175th Street, St. Albans, Queens. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. Ellington's (18991974), the most famous African American His wife, Catherine, had died in It was during this time that he was given the nickname Soloists were less prominent in this second edition of the Basie band although it included some of the major jazz musicians of the post-50's years, such as Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Al Grey, Eddie On September 11, 1996, the U.S. Post Office issued a Count Basie 32 cents postage stamp. "He was a wonderful man. The Barons of Rhythm were regulars at the Reno Club and often performed for a live radio broadcast. It was released by Roulette Records, then later reissued by Capitol Records. Basie hitched his star to some of the most famous vocalists of the 1950s and 1960s, which helped keep the Big Band sound alive and added greatly to his recording catalog. [63] DownBeat magazine reported: "(Basie) has managed to assemble an ensemble that can thrill both the listener who remembers 1938 and the youngster who has never before heard a big band like this. count basie daughter died. The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. You never got tired of that business at the end.". Basie heard Bennie Motens band, and longed to play with them. "When they let you in the door," Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic, reported, "it was like jumping into the center of a whirlwind. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. It was a loose and swinging band, built around distinctively individualistic solos by Lester Basie decided to form a medium-sized He married Catherine Morgan on July 13, 1940, in the King County courthouse in Seattle, Washington. He played piano with them, with one interruption, for the Basie was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. We've received your submission. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. The band survived Basie's death, with ex-Basie-ite trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his death in 1986. Count and Catherine were. But by 1952 he reorganized the band, and the second Count Basie Orchestra was considered as exciting, vibrant and even more important than the first. Catherine Basie, wife of Count Basie, the jazz musician and band leader, died of a heart attack yesterday at the couple's home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, according to Mr. Basie's agent. of the band. [33] When he made the Vocalion recordings, Basie had already signed with Decca Records, but did not have his first recording session with them until January 1937. Everything We Know about the Music Legends Love Life, Rich Man Leaves Older Son $2.8 Million, Younger Son Gets Only $1 Story of the Day, Hank Williams Jr Lost 'Drop-Dead Gorgeous' Wife of 31 Years in March Inside Their Marriage, Loretta Lynn Fought for Her Beloved Husband Though He Called Other Women into Their Bed. This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 01:33. The "book" of this early Basie band was based on blues and riffs developed on a blues structure. ABC World News Tonight feature on death of Count Basie on April 26, 1984 3,211 views Aug 26, 2016 26 Dislike Share Save pianopappy 7.27K subscribers Peter Jennings (who was a jazz an). He reformed his group as a 16-piece orchestra in 1952. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. I said the minute the brass got out of hand and blared and screeched instead of making every note mean something, there'd be some changes made. He was the arbiter of the big-band swing sound and his unique style of fusing blues and jazz established swing as a predominant music style. When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! I sat on the floor watching his feet and using my hands to imitate him. Count Basie was born on August 21, 1904 and died on April 26, 1984. [4] Both of his parents had some type of musical background. Darlin'"), Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster ("Shiny Stockings") were among the most notable orchestrators. A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. Your email address will not be published. After a decade-long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. "He certainly made a notch in musical history," said Benny Goodman, 75 years old, the jazz clarinetist and bandleader. Best Answer Copy William "Count" Basie and his wife Catherine had a daughter, Diane, who lived in Freeport, Bahamas at the time of Basie's death in 1984. (Holiday did not record with Basie, as she had her own record contract and preferred working with small combos). But it was in Harlem, New York City, that he learned the basics of piano, mainly from his sometime organ teacher, the great Fats Waller (19041943). with a particular soloist or two in mind. Young, Hershel Evans, Buddy Tate, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison, Dickie Wells, Vic Dickenson and, primarily, Mr. Basie himself. Famed record producer and journalist, John Hammond, heard the bands broadcast and began writing about the Orchestra to gain their attention. He called Basie "Holy Man", "Holy Main", and just plain "Holy".[36]. Count was 79 years old at the time of death. They were referred to as The pianist in the combo gave up his seat to Mr. Basie who sat down, tinkled a few The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, who's now a 74-year-old disabled woman. New York: Chelsea House, 1992. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They had one daughter. Joy S. Rosenthal, Trustee, William J. Basie Trust and Guardian for Diane L. Basie, At Institute of Jazz Studies, an Intimate Look at Count Basie, Grammy Nominated for Live At Birdland . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. [79] In his autobiography, he wrote, "I think the band can really swing when it swings easy, when it can just play along like you are cutting butter."[80]. As Metronome magazine proclaimed, "Basie's Brilliant Band Conquers Chick's"; the article described the evening: Throughout the fight, which never let down in its intensity during the whole fray, Chick took the aggressive, with the Count playing along easily and, on the whole, more musically scientifically. [20] Where the Blue Devils were "snappier" and more "bluesy", the Moten band was more refined and respected, playing in the "Kansas City stomp" style. With many of the other big bands of the swing This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [58] They played to a crowd of 15,000. Their only child, Diane, was born February 6, 1944. There was a memorable concert at Town Hall several He developed a new style of jazz called bebop. The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. He got used to seeing me, as though I were part of the show. He also hired arrangers who knew how to maximize the band's abilities, such as Eddie Durham and Jimmy Mundy. He couldnt write music at the time, but his ear was perfect. Ella Fitzgerald made some memorable recordings with Basie, including the 1963 album Ella and Basie!. He flicked out tightly economical, single-finger He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. When Bennie Moten died in 1935, the band disintegrated and Mr. Basie organized a small band to play at the Reno Club in Kansas City that became the nucleus of the band with which he gained his initial Page, a bassist--Jimmy Rushing, the blues signer, both of whom would be key members of Mr. Basie's band. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. [43] Durham returned to help with arranging and composing, but for the most part, the orchestra worked out its numbers in rehearsal, with Basie guiding the proceedings. the Basie band struggled for a year after it left Kansas City. 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The word Splank for Basie was coined by Sinatra a good onomatopoeic description of the lick. 'No,' I said, 'but I'd [76] In 1968, Basie and his Band recorded an album with Jackie Wilson titled Manufacturers of Soul. Basie. In 1959, Basie's band recorded a "greatest hits" double album The Count Basie Story (Frank Foster, arranger), and Basie/Eckstine Incorporated, an album featuring Billy Eckstine, Quincy Jones (as arranger) and the Count Basie Orchestra. Basie, Count. He became an accompanist to the blues singers Clara Smith and Maggie Jones and he worked Two of Basie's earliest Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. [89] The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Biography - A Short Wiki. See, Basie couldnt read music, so it was Eddie Durham who orchestrated his ideas for the Moten band and then later for the Basie band in New York for those Decca recordings. Report Accessibility Barrier or band's theme song, "One O'Clock Jump," document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Oscar Peterson and Quincy Jones were among the stars to pay tribute. Jazz icon, Count Basie, was born William James Basie August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey. This group was eventually called the New Testament band. recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. Undismayed by Chick's forceful drum beating, which sent the audience into shouts of encouragement and appreciation and casual beads of perspiration to drop from Chick's brow onto the brass cymbals, the Count maintained an attitude of poise and self-assurance. I thought he was kidding, shrugged my shoulders and replied, 'O.K.' He also scored a series of Top Ten hits on the pop and R&B charts, includingI Didnt Know About You,Red Bank Blues,Rusty Dusty Blues, Jimmys Blues,andBlue Skies. At a theatre in Newark he was able to hear regular performances by the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton and others. Basie toured in several acts between 1925 and 1927, including Katie Krippen and Her Kiddies (featuring singer Katie Crippen) as part of the Hippity Hop show; on the Keith, the Columbia Burlesque, and the Theater Owners Bookers Association (T.O.B.A.) Basie's new band played at the Reno Club and sometimes were broadcast on local radio. His mother paid 25 cents per piano lesson for him . Frank Sinatra recorded for the first time with Basie on 1962's Sinatra-Basie and for a second studio album on 1964's It Might as Well Be Swing, which was arranged by Quincy Jones. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. [69] That summer, Basie and Duke Ellington combined forces for the recording First Time! They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. [50] In 1939, Basie and his band made a major cross-country tour, including their first West Coast dates. with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. [37] Soon, they were booked at the Roseland Ballroom for the Christmas show. The big band era appeared to have ended after the war, and Basie disbanded the group. Mr. Basie's wife, Catherine, died in April 1983. Some argue Basie made some of his best work during the 1960s and 70sShiny Stocking, Lil Darlin, Corner Pocket,and even a hit single,Everyday I Have the Blues, with Joe Williams. He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. stylea solid rhythm backing the horn soloists, who were also Though stories abound at the genesis of his nickname, Basie later recalled it as a tribute to his penchant for slipping off during arranging sessions with Moten. Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. When he came back to Harlem, Fats Waller showed him how to play the organ, and Willie the Lion Smith took him under his wing. Copyright 2023, Rutgers, The State University of the personnel, and formed the first Count Basie Orchestra. "Can you imagine a man who kind of romps around the piano," Mr. Shearing said, How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? What Is The Origin Of Springerle Cookies? While he was in his late teens, he gravitated to Harlem, where he encountered Fats Waller. [21] In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. Mr. Basie's musicians had been playing "head" arrangements in Kansas City--treatments of the blues or pop tunes that were worked out He was the arbiter of the big-band swing sound and his unique style of fusing blues and jazz established swing as a predominant music style. Date of Death: April 26, 1984. on a motorized wheelchair which he sometimes drove with joyful abandon. She was 67 years old. What was the greatest era of the Basie band? Basie and his Orchestra appeared in five films, all released within a matter of months in 1943:Hit Parade, Reveille with Beverly, Stage Door Canteen, Top Man, andCrazy House. Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One O'Clock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. Age at Death: 79. His wife, Catherine, had died in 1983. for the next quarter of a century. [17], In 1928, Basie was in Tulsa and heard Walter Page and his Famous Blue Devils, one of the first big bands, which featured Jimmy Rushing on vocals. Mr. Basie, a short, stocky, taciturn but witty man who liked to wear a yachting cap offstage, presided over the band at the piano with apparent utmost casualness. Count Basie. One Great Band.Count Basie will always be remembered..Too bad he passed away.. 1928. The band survived Basies death, with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. parents, Harvey and Lillian (Childs) Basie, were both musicians. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years. The Basie band was looser and had a more relaxed swing feeling. Discouraged by the obvious talents of Sonny Greer, who also lived in Red Bank and became Duke Ellington's drummer in 1919, Basie switched to piano exclusively at age 15. The broadcast was picked up one night by John Hammond, the jazz enthusiast who had discovered Billie Holiday and helped Benny Goodman start his band. When did Count Basie start playing the piano? From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging From 1929 to 1932, Basie was part of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra: In 1958, Basie became the first African-American to win a Grammy Award. [35] Lester Young, known as "Prez" by the band, came up with nicknames for all the other band members. the Basie band. [25] The band improved with several personnel changes, including the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Through Mr. Waller, Mr. Basie got a job as an accompanist with a vaudeville act called Katie Crippen and Her Kids.
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