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There were often no musical notations made. introductory notes, looked up at the drummer, nodded at the rest of the group and, when the combo took off, the musicians were playing as brilliantly and cleanly as they had been disheveled only They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. 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. The band tried to stay together but failed. Early after his arrival, he bumped into Sonny Greer, who was by then the drummer for the Washingtonians, Duke Ellington's early band. He died of cancer in [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. went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. [26] A year later, Basie joined Bennie Moten's band, and played with them until Moten died in 1935 from a failed tonsillectomy. [12][13] His touring took him to Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Chicago. Their only child, Diane, was born February 6, 1944. When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! [21] In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. Report Accessibility Barrier or He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz bands in history. His daughter, Diane Basie, now 71 and living in Florida. 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. Behind the occasional bebop solos, he always kept his strict rhythmic pulse, "so it doesn't matter what they do up front; the audience gets the beat". in a 14th Street dance hall. According to court papers, Diane is severely retarded and only marginally communicative, so Basie left two co-trustees he considered his close friends in charge of his estate and his daughter. We've received your submission. non-soloing brass and reeds). "and those tiny tinkling things. Mr. Basie was, along with Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, one of the pre-eminent bandleaders of the Big Band era in the 1930's and 40's. He developed a new style of jazz called bebop. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. was the reworking of a standard tune"I Got At a theatre in Newark he was able to hear regular performances by the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton and others. When did Count Basie start playing the piano? Basie reorganized the Orchestra in 1952 and this new band was in high demand and toured extensively around the world. [47], A few months later, Holiday left for Artie Shaw's band. [14] Before he was 20 years old, he toured extensively on the Keith and TOBA vaudeville circuits as a solo pianist, accompanist, and music director for blues singers, dancers, and comedians. The pianist Count Basie died at the age of 79. The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, whos now a 74-year-old disabled woman. 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. [32] He invited them to record, in performances which were Lester Young's earliest recordings. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? This provided an early training that was to prove significant in his later career. With Billy Eckstine on the album Basie/Eckstine Incorporated, in 1959. To help it through the Grand Terrace engagement, Fletcher Henderson, who had provided Benny Goodman with 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. When that band broke up in 1929, he Bennie Moten's band band's achievements was its fifty-year survival in a culture that Birthday: August 21, 1904. Jazz at Santa . Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing.Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. [67] The Basie band made two tours in the British Isles and on the second, they put on a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II, along with Judy Garland, Vera Lynn, and Mario Lanza. 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). At 16. Okla., a band that included--in addition to Mr. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. factor in popularizing it was a series of repetitions of the final few bars when, as the orchestra seemingly came to the end of the piece, Mr. Basie held up a finger and called out, "One mo' The band flopped at a Pittsburgh hotel that had never booked a jazz band before. with a particular soloist or two in mind. count basie daughter died. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". next five years. Count Basie was a pianist, bandleader, and composer considered as one of the most popular figures in the jazz world. [25] The band improved with several personnel changes, including the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. 1415. In 1950, he headlined the Universal-International short film "Sugar Chile" Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet. In 2009, Basie was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.[88]. In the early 1970s, the Basies moved to the warmer climate of Freeport, Bahamas. They have one child. The Gonzel White show was stranded in Kansas City, Mo., a fateful location for Mr. Basie. band in 1950, juggling combinations of all-star musicians. [42] The band's first appearance at the Apollo Theater followed, with the vocalists Holiday and Jimmy Rushing getting the most attention. Their daughter, Iska, died at the age of 14 after a series . What Is The Origin Of Springerle Cookies? Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.". Basie decided to form a medium-sized time!". Copyright 2023, Rutgers, The State University of era he also shared the less appealing one-nighters (a series of single returned to his first lovethe big bandand it thrived. Within a year . Their "Moten Swing", which Basie claimed credit for,[23] was an invaluable contribution to the development of swing music, and at one performance at the Pearl Theatre in Philadelphia in December 1932, the theatre opened its door to allow anybody in who wanted to hear the band perform. 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. Biography - A Short Wiki. 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. recordings, the 1943 musicians' strike, the strain of skilled performers (reflecting Basie's sound management) gave the New York: Random House, 1985. 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. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Basie recalled a review, which said something like, "We caught the great Count Basie band which is supposed to be so hot he was going to come in here and set the Roseland on fire. The family had a piano, and Basies mother paid 25 a lesson for his piano lessons at an early age. Even more important was the fact that the Famous Door had national and local radio wires. Basie was often recognized for his understated yet captivating style of piano playing and his precise, impeccable musical leadership. Image of Wayne King, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Bill Elliot at Big Band Festival at Disneyland, Anaheim, 1964. On September 11, 1996, the U.S. Post Office issued a Count Basie 32 cents postage stamp. In 2005, Count Basie's song "One O'Clock Jump" (1937) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Mr. Alexander agreed to lend the club $2,500 to install an air-conditioner if it would book In 1976 Basie suffered a heart attack, but he returned to the bandstand [74], Count Basie died of pancreatic cancer in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984, at the age of 79.[1]. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. Another Basie innovation was the use of two tenor saxophone players; at the time, most bands had just one. fast-paced tunes designed to excite the audience. Count Basie. [48] When Eddie Durham left for Glenn Miller's orchestra, he was replaced by Dicky Wells. with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. He joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in 1928, and a year later, he started to play with Bennie Moten's band in Kansas City. cushion. [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. silent movie theater, he joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in 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. "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. 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. This group was eventually called the New Testament band. Count and Mrs. Basie were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. [4] Both of his parents had some type of musical background. Another boost was provided in the late 1950s by the recording of [89] The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. The loss of key personnel (some to military service), the wartime ban on At a White House reception, President Reagan said that Mr. Basie was "among the handful of musicians that helped change the path of American music in the 30's and the 40's" and that he had "revolutionized jazz.". On July 21, 1930, Basie married Vivian Lee Winn, in Kansas City, Missouri. E-Commerce Site for Mobius GPO Members count basie daughter died. epitome of swing, of jazz that moved with a built-in flowing intensity. Shortly after he got there, he got a gig replacing Fats Waller with a touring vaudeville act. Count Basie (1904-1984) The title of one of his bands most famous tunes The Kid from Red Bank is an obvious tip-off, but many jazz historians assume that William J. While on one tour he became stranded in Kansas City, Missouri. The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. Jazz icon, Count Basie, was born William James Basie August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey. The Count Basie Orchestra, today directed by Scotty Barnhart, has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world. William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader and composer. The band survived Basies death, with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. Perhaps the most startling of the William James "Count" Basie learned how to play the piano at an early age under his mothers instructions. A few months later, Basie quit MCA and signed with the William Morris Agency, who got them better fees.[51]. Provide Feedback Form. She was 67 years old. 2022-06-30; wreck on 1942 crosby, tx today . Basie's new band was more of an ensemble group, with fewer solo turns, and relying less on "head" and more on written arrangements. Frank Sinatra (19151998), Ella Fitzgerald (19171996), During this period he also recorded with music greats, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several wealthy families in the area. Mr. Hammond spread the word about the Basie band, A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. . Count Basie and his Orchestra played at the tenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert also at Wrigley Field on June 20, 1954. [62] Soon, his band was touring and recording again. He became an accompanist to the blues singers Clara Smith and Maggie Jones and he worked 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. While on one tour he became stranded Later that year, Basie appeared on a television special with Fred Astaire, featuring a dance solo to "Sweet Georgia Brown", followed in January 1961 by Basie performing at one of the five John F. Kennedy Inaugural Balls. Joe Williams toured with the band and was featured on the 1957 album One O'Clock Jump, and 1956's Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings, with "Every Day (I Have the Blues)" becoming a huge hit. During his last years, he had difficulty walking and rode out on the stage He flicked out tightly economical, single-finger "flagwavers," 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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [2][3] His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. hired him. The new band billed itself as Count Basie and his Cherry Blossom Orchestra, marking the first time that Count was officially added to his name. Splank-Splank-Splank-Boom. The Black Music Association honored Mr. Basie in 1982 with a gala at Radio City Music Hall. was a member of the Basie band in the 1940's. in the death of the big-band era. [61] Basie also added flute to some numbers, a novelty at the time that became widely copied. The songs were often designed to One of Basie's biggest regrets was never recording with Louis Armstrong, though they shared the same bill several times. Through Mr. Waller, Mr. Basie got a job as an accompanist with a vaudeville act called Katie Crippen and Her Kids. [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? William James "Count" Basie (/besi/; August 21, 1904 April 26, 1984)[1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 01:33. While he recuperated his band continued to fulfill engagements, frequently with Nat Pierce taking Mr. Basie's place at the piano and sometimes with guest conductors such as the trumpeter Clark Terry, who Is the Count Basie Orchestra still alive? On the West Coast, in 1942 the band did a spot in Reveille With Beverly, a musical film starring Ann Miller, and a "Command Performance" for Armed Forces Radio, with Hollywood stars Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Carmen Miranda, Jerry Colonna, and the singer Dinah Shore. Jimmy Rushing sang with Basie in the late 1930s. He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. He reformed his group as a 16-piece orchestra in 1952. His personnel around 1937 included: Lester Young and Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums), Walter Page (bass), Earle Warren (alto sax), Buck Clayton and Harry Edison (trumpet), Benny Morton and Dickie Wells (trombone). Well, that was the last time I was ever introduced as Bill Basie. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In 1976, Mr. Basie suffered a heart attack. Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. Once the musicians found what they liked, they usually were able to repeat it using their "head arrangements" and collective memory.[44]. His piano style, which often seemed bare and simple, was an exquisitely realized condensation of the florid "stride" style of Fats Waller and James P. Johnson with whom Mr. Basie started. Jazz icon, Count Basie, was born William JamesBasie August 21, 1904in Red Bank, New Jersey. Count Basie and his Friends, myspace.com. Basie was married in two occasions, first to Vivian Lee Winn from 1930 to 1935, and later to Catherine Morgan, from 1940 until her death in 1983. of the band. traveled to by bus). We proudly celebrate Red Bank New Jersey's most famous musical son during . encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any accessibility issues The place catered to "uptown celebrities", and typically the band winged every number without sheet music using "head arrangements". "April in Paris" (arrangement by Wild Bill Davis) was a best-selling instrumental and the title song for the hit album. 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. Jones also arranged and conducted 1966's live Sinatra at the Sands which featured Sinatra with Count Basie and his orchestra at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. They had one daughter. The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie in 1935 and recording regularly from 1936. 5 How old was Catherine Basie when she died? Some time in or before 1935, the now single Basie returned to New York City, renting a house at 111 West 138th Street, Manhattan, as evidenced by the 1940 census. in Kansas City, Missouri. the Basie band. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. He played piano with them, with one interruption, for the Among his band's best-known numbers were "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Li'l Darlin'" and "April in Paris.". the arrangements that enabled his band to break through a year earlier, lent Mr. Basie some of his arrangements. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Well, the Roseland is still standing". Mr. Basie's musicians had been playing "head" arrangements in Kansas City--treatments of the blues or pop tunes that were worked out New Jersey. "[64] In 1957, Basie sued the jazz venue Ball and Chain in Miami over outstanding fees, causing the closure of the venue. Count and Catherine were. and Sarah Vaughan (19241990). With the New Testament Basie band in full swing, and arrangements written by a youthful Quincy Jones, this album proved a swinging respite from her Songbook recordings and constant touring she did during this period. 1983. He quickly made a name for himself playing the piano at local venues and parties around town until he moved to New York City in search of greater opportunities. To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine-piece band to 13 pieces. Count Basie Birthday and Date of Death. The band survived Basie's death, We set the thing up front in D-flat, and then we just went on playing in F." It became his signature tune. 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. He soon started booking the band and shopping them to agents and record companies forging their big break. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. In fact, the only reason I enlarged the brass was to get a richer harmonic What was the greatest era of the Basie band? Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie. After Motens death in 1935, Basie started his band, the Count Basie Orchestra. Catherine Basie, wife of Count Basie, the jazz musician and band leader, died of a heart attack yesterday at the couples home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, according to Mr. Basies agent. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years. He got some jobs in Asbury Park at the Jersey Shore, and played at the Hong Kong Inn until a better player took his place.[10]. She died in 1983. But the obvious talents of another young Red Bank drummer, Sonny Greer, Both of Basies parents were hard workers. Ellington's (18991974), the most famous African American for the next quarter of a century. "When they let you in the door," Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic, reported, "it was like jumping into the center of a whirlwind. [31] Hammond first heard Basie's band on the radio and went to Kansas City to check them out. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. [28], At the end of 1936, Basie and his band, now billed as Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, moved from Kansas City to Chicago, where they honed their repertoire at a long engagement at the Grand Terrace Ballroom. The sound was almost frightening. His home for many years was in Freeport, the Bahamas; he died of cancer at Doctors' Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. [45] In early 1938, the Savoy was the meeting ground for a "battle of the bands" with Chick Webb's group. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. In 1937 Basie took his group, Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, to New York to record their first album with Decca Records under their new name, The Count Basie Orchestra. He also recorded with Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, and Sarah Vaughan. The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, whos now a 74-year-old disabled woman. 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. From the Grand Terrace, it moved on to New York and Roseland Ballroom (playing opposite Woody Herman's new, young band) where listeners complained that it was out of tune (not a surprising reaction Jazz Musician. He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas. Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie. In 1949, the Basie family moved one of the premier neighborhoods open to African American families Addsleigh Park in St. Albans, Queens, New York. Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. In 1950, financial restraints forced Basie to disband the orchestra. The Count Basie Orchestra recorded and played live with many iconic artists like Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tonny Benneth and Sarah Vaughan. structure. Hes survived by his disabled daughter, Diane, who was allegedly the victim of a robbery at the hands of her late father's friend. 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. The couple kept her and cared deeply for her, and especially through her mother's tutelage, Diane learned not only to walk but to swim. But Moten was an expert piano player himself, and Basie fashioned a job for himself as the bands staff arranger. In May 2019, Basie was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Memphis, TN, presented by The Blues Foundation. (This became known as the New Testament Band, while the first Orchestra was the Old Testament Band.) They played command performances for kings, queens and presidents, and issued a large number of recordings both under Basies name and as the backing band for various singers, most notably Frank Sinatra. In 1935, Bennie Moten died and it was left to Basie to take some of the musicians from that orchestra and form his own, The Count Basie Orchestra, which is still alive and well today some 78 years later. Basie is a part of the Big Band Leaders issue, which, is in turn, part of the Legends of American Music series. Basie earned nine Grammy Awardsand made history in 1958 by becoming the first African-American to receive the award. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Many other bands later adapted the split tenor arrangement. In 1935, Bennie Moten died and it was left to Basie to take some of the musicians from that . When the band voted Moten out, Basie took over for several months, calling the group Count Basie and his Cherry Blossoms. century. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. rehearsal and then written down later. Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. The Basie band was looser and had a more relaxed swing feeling. Basie occasionally lost some key soloists. band a permanent place in jazz history. 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. The Soon after, Benny Goodman recorded their signature "One O'Clock Jump" with his band. She was 67 years old. Services will be private. By then a series of records by the Basie band had begun appearing (under a contract with Decca Records by which Mr. Basie was paid a total of $750 for 24 sides with no royalties--"probably the most Teaches Jazz. 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. bands in history. William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. She was 67 years old. (Lockjaw) Davis, Frank Wess, Jimmy Forrest and the blues singer Joe Williams. [27] According to Basie, "we hit it with the rhythm section and went into the riffs, and the riffs just stuck.