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. A pianist, Count Basie played vaudeville before eventually forming his own big band and helping to define the era of swing with hits like One OClock Jump and Blue Skies. In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. And it was a seven-day week. [70], During the balance of the 1960s, the band kept active with tours, recordings, television appearances, festivals, Las Vegas shows, and travel abroad, including cruises. Gonsalves and Clark Terry. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. In 2021s Elvis, a Count Basie poster is seen about 20 minutes into the movie. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. He soon started booking the band and shopping them to agents and record companies forging their big break. During the 1940's, many of the great jazz musicians of the decade passed through the band, among them Illinois Jacquet, Don Byas, Wardell Gray, Paul Quinichette, Lucky Thompson, J. J. Johnson, Paul [41], Hammond introduced Basie to Billie Holiday, whom he invited to sing with the band. Your email address will not be published. He occasionally played four-hand piano and dual pianos with Moten, who also conducted. 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 While on one tour he became stranded in Kansas City, Missouri. [85], By 2011, four recordings of Count Basie had been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old, and that have "qualitative or historical significance.". When that band broke up in 1929, he Bennie Moten's band Provide Feedback Form, Rutgers, The State University of This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. accessibility issues with Rutgers web sites to accessibility@rutgers.edu 50 feet long, which was having trouble doing business in the summer because it had no air-conditioning. Count Basie Birthday and Date of Death. [1] As he did with Duke Ellington, Willie "the Lion" Smith helped Basie out during the lean times by arranging gigs at "house-rent parties", introducing him to other leading musicians, and teaching him some piano technique. Hollywood, Florida recordings, the 1943 musicians' strike, the strain of Encyclopedia of Jazz. "One night the announcer called me to the microphone for those usual few words of introduction," Mr. Basie once recalled. The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, who's now a 74-year-old disabled woman. Famed record producer and journalist, John Hammond, heard the bands broadcast and began writing about the Orchestra to gain their attention. He got used to seeing me, as though I were part of the show. [5][6], The best student in school, Basie dreamed of a traveling life, inspired by touring carnivals which came to town. superior arrangements (reflecting Basie's good taste) and the She was 67 years old. There was a memorable concert at Town Hall several 1415. Count Basie, Jr. was a native of Kansas City, Missouri. Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. Well, the Roseland is still standing". Hammond introduced Helen Humes, whom Basie hired; she stayed with Basie for four years. traveled to by bus). To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine-piece band to 13 pieces. [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. But in 2012, Manhattan Surrogates Court Justice Kristin Booth Glen removed Woodward from his guardian role after he failed to account for money that belonged to Diane. However, the man ended up betraying Basies trust, and he stole from Diane. He was a big force in music. a few moments before. It went so well; it was so thrilling and exciting". [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. band's theme song, "One O'Clock Jump," or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier or The family had a piano, and Basies mother paid 25 a lesson for his piano lessons at an early age. 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 is a part of the Big Band Leaders issue, which, is in turn, part of the Legends of American Music series. [8], Though a natural at the piano, Basie preferred drums. [42] The band's first appearance at the Apollo Theater followed, with the vocalists Holiday and Jimmy Rushing getting the most attention. [74], Count Basie died of pancreatic cancer in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984, at the age of 79.[1]. 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 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. "I had dropped into the old Lincoln Theater in Harlem," Mr. Basie once recalled, "and I heard a young fellow beating it out on an organ. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. pillsbury company net worth; does gotomeeting work in china; tanner mark boots website Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. big city hotel ballrooms. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved [21] In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Basie died while her husband was appearing at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. This familiar pattern was evident in the Ellington's (18991974), the most famous African American The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Provide Feedback Form. She was 67 years old. on the stand. Count Basie was a bandleader and pianist who was at the forefront of American big band music in the mid-twentieth century. ", Basie at the piano, 1955, in a photographic portrait by, Los Angeles and the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. 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. The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, whos now a 74-year-old disabled woman. 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. William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. We proudly celebrate Red Bank New Jersey's most famous musical son during . I wanted those three trumpets and two trombones 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, Count. Basie died April 26, 1984 in Hollywood, FL but his legacy is still swinging strong. skilled performers (reflecting Basie's sound management) gave the The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". in a 14th Street dance hall. century. (traveling variety entertainment). Ellington was a composer who played piano, but he really used the band as his expressive instrument. In 1976 Basie suffered a heart attack, but he returned to the bandstand What Is The Origin Of Springerle Cookies? He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz bands in history. Basie made his professional debut playing piano with vaudeville acts (traveling variety entertainment). 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. Jazz Musician. 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 . 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One O'Clock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. Count Basie was born on August 21, 1904 and died on April 26, 1984. 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. the personnel, and formed the first Count Basie Orchestra. Perhaps the most startling of the The After Moten died in 1935, Basie took what was left of the band, expanded She took in laundry and baked cakes for sale for a living. Basie appointed Aaron Woodward, a Long Island Baptist pastor and accountant, to be Dianes guardian. Then when he develops his big band, he reunites with Eddie Durham. I sat on the floor watching his feet and using my hands to imitate him. Your email address will not be published. The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. returned to his first lovethe big bandand it thrived. Then he joined a touring show headed by one Gonzel White, playing piano in a four-piece band. went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. April 27, 1984 7 AM PT. 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. Count Basie was a pianist, bandleader, and composer considered as one of the most popular figures in the jazz world. 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. We've received your submission. 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. 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. It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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[38] Compared to the reigning band of Fletcher Henderson, Basie's band lacked polish and presentation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. Mr. Basie's band, more than any other, was the Bandleader, arranger and pianist Fletcher Henderson is one of the most influential and yet least-known jazz masters. They were referred to as Provide Feedback Form. [35] Lester Young, known as "Prez" by the band, came up with nicknames for all the other band members. As a young boy, Basie hated to see his parents working so hard, and vowed to help them get ahead. William (Count) Basie, who produced more music with two fingers than most pianists get out of 10, died Thursday in a hospital in Hollywood, Fla., where he had been admitted . The band survived Basie's death, 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. Basie had Holiday, and Webb countered with the singer Ella Fitzgerald. In addition to Quincy Jones, Basie was using arrangers such as Benny Carter (Kansas City Suite), Neal Hefti (The Atomic Mr Basie), and Sammy Nestico (Basie-Straight Ahead). He developed a new style of jazz called bebop. "flagwavers," ', "The next day he invited me to sit in the pit and start working the pedals. Those four sides were released on Vocalion Records under the band name of Jones-Smith Incorporated; the sides were "Shoe Shine Boy", "Evening", "Boogie Woogie", and "Oh Lady Be Good". With Mr. Basie's 13 men in full cry at one end of this elongated closet, the sound ricocheting off the walls and rocketing down from the low ceiling, no listener could escape the exhilarating power next five years. Basie also toured with Bennett, including a date at Carnegie Hall. [34], By then, Basie's sound was characterized by a "jumping" beat and the contrapuntal accents of his own piano. Darlin'"), Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster ("Shiny Stockings") were among the most notable orchestrators. Count Basie, byname of William Basie, (born August 21, 1904, Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.died April 26, 1984, Hollywood, Florida), American jazz musician noted for his spare, economical piano style and for his leadership of influential and widely heralded big bands. [75], Basie also recorded with Tony Bennett in the late 1950s. supported by sectional riffing (the repeating of a musical figure by the Basie occasionally lost some key soloists. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. favorites, "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and In 2009, Edgecombe Avenue and 160th Street in, "Blues in Hoss' Flat," composed by Basie band member, Since 1963 "The Kid From Red Bank" has been the theme and. 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. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. When Basie took his orchestra to New York in 1937, they made the Woodside Hotel in Harlem their base (they often rehearsed in its basement). How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? Basie gave up her career to care for their daughter, who was mentally retarded, and their two adopted sons. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". for the next quarter of a century. Biography - A Short Wiki. Individuals When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! 1928. In the early 1970s, the Basies moved to the warmer climate of Freeport, Bahamas. Kliment, Bud. Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. Died: April 26, 1984 Hollywood, Florida African American bandleader and musician Count Basie was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a century. dealing with the egos of his musicians. [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. He then traveled from New York to Kansas City just to hear the band and to meet Count Basie. By the mid-1950s, Basie's band had become one of the preeminent backing big bands for some of the most prominent jazz vocalists of the time. 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. The pianist Count Basie died at the age of 79. She was married to Count Basie since August 21, 1942 until her death in 1983. In 2009, Basie was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.[88]. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Splank-Splank-Splank-Boom. 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 In 1942, they moved to Queens. [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]. era he also shared the less appealing one-nighters (a series of single