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. Next, Basie played at the Savoy, which was noted more for lindy-hopping, while the Roseland was a place for fox-trots and congas. 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. the arrangements that enabled his band to break through a year earlier, lent Mr. Basie some of his arrangements. 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. 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. experienced so many changes in musical fashion, especially after the In 1976, Mr. Basie suffered a heart attack. Basie made a few more movie appearances, such as in the Jerry Lewis film Cinderfella (1960) and the Mel Brooks movie Blazing Saddles (1974), playing a revised arrangement of "April in Paris". 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). He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. skilled performers (reflecting Basie's sound management) gave the 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. 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. By then, Basie was playing with pick-up groups for dances, resorts, and amateur shows, including Harry Richardson's "Kings of Syncopation". Here is all you want to know, and more! [65], In 1958, the band made its first European tour. In 1981, Mr. Basie was honored along with Cary Grant, Helen Hayes and other stars as a 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 Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years. Another Basie innovation was the use of two tenor saxophone players; at the time, most bands had just one. Dropping out of junior high school, Basie learned to operate lights for vaudeville and to improvise piano accompaniment for silent films at the local movie theater in his hometown that would eventually become the Count Basie Theatre. recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. Required fields are marked *. Page, Mr. Basie and Mr. Rushing all joined Bennie Moten's orchestra, the leading big band in the Southwest, which became even stronger with their presence. There will be a viewing at Benta's Funeral Home, 630 St. Nicholas Avenue at 141st Street, on Sunday from 1 to 7 P.M. Where did Count Basie do most of his touring? His Family After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. Count Basie and his Orchestra played at the tenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert also at Wrigley Field on June 20, 1954. kristie bennett survivor; sporting goods flemington, nj; biscay green color; count basie daughter died. 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 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Their fame took a huge leap. Basie, Count. Jump" (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. The band will continue under the guidance of Aaron Woodward, an adopted son of Mr. Basie who has worked closely with the orchestra leader during the last year. He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. big city hotel ballrooms. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. structure. [74], Count Basie died of pancreatic cancer in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984, at the age of 79.[1]. Advertisement 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. Some of their notable chart toppers includedJumpin at the Woodside,April in Paris, and Basies own composition,One OClock Jump, which became the orchestras signature piece. His daughter, Diane Basie, now 71 and living in Florida with full-time caregivers, is severely retarded and only marginally communicative, according to court papers. [42] The band's first appearance at the Apollo Theater followed, with the vocalists Holiday and Jimmy Rushing getting the most attention. many other famous artists, including Duke Ellington (18991974), Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. there were a couple of well-known bandleaders named Earl Hines and Duke Ellington. This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 01:33. During this period he also recorded with music greats, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. The songs were often designed to We set the thing up front in D-flat, and then we just went on playing in F." It became his signature tune. [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]. groups' recordings were of the highest quality, but in 1951 Basie When that band broke up in 1929, he Bennie Moten's band [27] According to Basie, "we hit it with the rhythm section and went into the riffs, and the riffs just stuck. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. All We Know about the Award-Winning Composer, His Life, and Legacy, Rich Old Man Left More than $10M Estate to 11 Heirs One Keeps Portion Worth Millions for Herself, Who Is Lionel Richie Married To? 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. Provide Feedback Form. Basie had Holiday, and Webb countered with the singer Ella Fitzgerald. He was a big force in music. Age at Death: 79. 1981 interview cited in "The Lester Young Story" (Properbox 16), pp. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. After working briefly as house organist in a This second-generation big band differed from the early one in that it depended on arrangers for its basic style, a smooth, rolling, highly polished swing style for which Neal Hefti ("Li'l One of them, Aaron Woodward, a Long Island Baptist pastor and accountant, was considered an informally adopted son by Basie, according to a report by Jet magazine. with a particular soloist or two in mind. 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 since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). Their albums together included In Person and Strike Up the Band. Basie favored blues, and he would showcase some of the most notable blues singers of the era after he went to New York: Billie Holiday, Jimmy Rushing, Big Joe Turner, Helen Humes, and Joe Williams. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. bands in history. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. and Sarah Vaughan (19241990). After Motens death in 1935, Basie started his band, the Count Basie Orchestra. When William James Count Basie died of cancer in 1984, he left his $1.5 million fortune in a trust to provide for his only child. Provide Feedback Form. Basie made his professional debut playing piano with vaudeville acts (traveling variety entertainment). 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. 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. in the death of the big-band era. At 16. [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. Provide Feedback Form. Mr. Basie's band, more than any other, was the After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. count basie daughter died. See the Count Basie Orchestra Discography. "He was the only leader in the business who ever went out of his way to help me," Mr. Basie said later. He then traveled from New York to Kansas City just to hear the band and to meet Count Basie. As a young boy, Basie hated to see his parents working so hard, and vowed to help them get ahead. New Jersey, Report Accessibility Barrier or [30], In that city in October 1936, the band had a recording session which the producer John Hammond later described as "the only perfect, completely perfect recording session I've ever had anything to do with". They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. accessibility issues with Rutgers web sites to accessibility@rutgers.edu Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. In 1949, the Basie family moved one of the premier neighborhoods open to African American families Addsleigh Park in St. Albans, Queens, New York. 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. His wife, Catherine, had died in The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Basie died while her husband was appearing at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. [40] His first official recordings for Decca followed, under contract to agent MCA, including "Pennies from Heaven" and "Honeysuckle Rose". night performances in a number of small cities and towns that were Then he joined a touring show headed by one Gonzel White, playing piano in a four-piece band. [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. Born: August 21, 1904 [38] Compared to the reigning band of Fletcher Henderson, Basie's band lacked polish and presentation. Basie added touches of bebop "so long as it made sense", and he required that "it all had to have feeling". vaudeville circuits; and as a soloist and accompanist to blues singer Gonzelle White as well as Crippen. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday. 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 Well, the Roseland is still standing". [61] Basie also added flute to some numbers, a novelty at the time that became widely copied. Fletcher Henderson's band was playing at the Grand Terrace just before the Basie band arrived there. Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. Soon after, Benny Goodman recorded their signature "One O'Clock Jump" with his band. "He certainly made a notch in musical history," said Benny Goodman, 75 years old, the jazz clarinetist and bandleader. 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. 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. He has had an unprecedented four recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame One OClock Jump(1979),April in Paris(1985),Everyday I Have the Blues(1992), andLester Leaps In(2005), along with a slew of other awards and honors not only for his music, but for his humanitarianism and philanthropy around the world. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several families in the area. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". [89] The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. 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. April 27, 1984 7 AM PT. [55] The war years caused a lot of members turn over, and the band worked many play dates with lower pay. He went out on tour with on the vaudeville and TOBA circuits again until his performance group disbanded in the mid-1920s, leaving him stuck in Kansas City. In the early 1970s, the Basies moved to the warmer climate of Freeport, Bahamas. "Of course, I wanted to play real jazz. In 1950, he headlined the Universal-International short film "Sugar Chile" Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet. (traveling variety entertainment). 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.". superior arrangements (reflecting Basie's good taste) and the His father, Harvey Lee Basie, was a coachman and a groundskeeper, and his mother, Lillian Childs Basie, was a laundress. The band survived Basie's death, with ex-Basie-ite trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his death in 1986. While he was in his late teens, he gravitated to Harlem, where he encountered Fats Waller. 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. In 1942, they moved to Queens. Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. 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. During his orchestras peak years in the 1920s and 30s, he helped define the sound of big-band jazz, pioneering musical ideas which today are taken for granted. 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. By 1937 Basie's band was, with the possible exception of Duke [8], Though a natural at the piano, Basie preferred drums. 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. [53] Other minor movie spots followed, including Choo Choo Swing, Crazy House, Top Man, Stage Door Canteen, and Hit Parade of 1943. When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! What was the greatest era of the Basie band? 4 What pianist and his orchestra were really popular in the big band era? Individuals The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". [45] In early 1938, the Savoy was the meeting ground for a "battle of the bands" with Chick Webb's group. Birthday: August 21, 1904. onenighters, and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role While reports of Woodard being sent to jail never surfaced, one thing is for sure, and that is that Diane is doing great under her new caretakers. On February 19, 1940, Count Basie and his Orchestra opened a four-week engagement at Southland in Boston, and they broadcast over the radio on February 20. The band survived Basie's death, After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. Sometimes a member of the band would come up with an original, written Basie, Count. Count was 79 years old at the time of death. How old was Catherine Basie when she died? 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. 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. Date of Death: April 26, 1984. [5] Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging 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). Hes survived by his disabled daughter, Diane, who was allegedly the victim of a robbery at the hands of her late father's friend. Mechanic Street, where he grew up with his family, has the honorary title of Count Basie Way. [50] In 1939, Basie and his band made a major cross-country tour, including their first West Coast dates. 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. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1980. 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". "And that's when the whole fire started," said Mr. Alexander. Late one night with time to fill, the band started improvising. "He was a wonderful man. But I wanted that bite to be just as tasty and subtle as if it were the three brass I used to use. On May 23, 1985, William "Count" Basie was presented, posthumously, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday morning [15], Back in Harlem in 1925, Basie gained his first steady job at Leroy's, a place known for its piano players and its "cutting contests". His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. Many other bands later adapted the split tenor arrangement. 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). Splank-Splank-Splank-Boom. Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. Okla., a band that included--in addition to Mr. While on one tour he became stranded This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. It positioned him with Earl Hines, as well as Duke Ellington. (Holiday did not record with Basie, as she had her own record contract and preferred working with small combos). [73], On April 11, 1983, Catherine Basie died of heart disease at the couple's home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. a few moments before. The band keeps on touring around the country under the direction of trumpeter Scotty Barnhart. 3 What pianist lead the most successful band in Kansas City? Within a year Gonsalves and Clark Terry. [46], The publicity over the big band battle, before and after, gave the Basie band a boost and wider recognition. [69] That summer, Basie and Duke Ellington combined forces for the recording First Time! [54] They also continued to record for OKeh Records and Columbia Records. Sometimes the arrangement 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. hired him. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations like the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, using arrangers to broaden their sound, and others. Performers of bebop left the traditional musical melody and played a song freely, with the music and rhythm that was felt at the time. 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. Basie occasionally lost some key soloists. band in America. [2][3] His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. 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. Received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1974. Neal Hefti began to provide arrangements, including "Lil Darlin'". Mr. Basie's musicians had been playing "head" arrangements in Kansas City--treatments of the blues or pop tunes that were worked out Many of the band's arrangements were Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. One day he asked me whether I played the organ. William James "Count" Basie (/besi/; August 21, 1904 April 26, 1984)[1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. 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. fast-paced tunes designed to excite the audience. 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.
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