Their daughter, Iska, died at the age of 14 after a series . in Kansas City, Missouri. After a decade-long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.". Their albums together included In Person and Strike Up the Band. epitome of swing, of jazz that moved with a built-in flowing intensity. [50] In 1939, Basie and his band made a major cross-country tour, including their first West Coast dates. [41], Hammond introduced Basie to Billie Holiday, whom he invited to sing with the band. It was here that he was introduced to the big-band sound when he joined Walter Pages Blue Devils in 1928. Jazz was especially appreciated in France, The Netherlands, and Germany in the 1950s; these countries were the stomping grounds for many expatriate American jazz stars who were either resurrecting their careers or sitting out the years of racial divide in the United States. Basie made his professional debut playing piano with vaudeville acts (traveling variety entertainment). "Lester Leaps In," were created as features for William Basie was born to Lillian and Harvey Lee Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. Provide Feedback Form, Rutgers, The State University of "[64] In 1957, Basie sued the jazz venue Ball and Chain in Miami over outstanding fees, causing the closure of the venue. The From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. They have one child. Basie reorganized the Orchestra in 1952 and this new band was in high demand and toured extensively around the world. Copyright 2023, Rutgers, The State University of give my right arm to learn. 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? In 2009, Basie was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.[88]. 4 What pianist and his orchestra were really popular in the big band era? [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. When the band voted Moten out, Basie took over for several months, calling the group Count Basie and his Cherry Blossoms. [89] The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. 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. Basie 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. (Basie later played organ at the Eblon Theater in Kansas City). Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. 5 How old was Catherine Basie when she died? AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. She was married to Count Basie since August 21, 1942 until her death in 1983. Credit: GettyImages/Global Images of Ukraine. 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. groups' recordings were of the highest quality, but in 1951 Basie "heads"arrangements worked out without planning in In 1949, the Basie family moved one of the premier neighborhoods open to African American families Addsleigh Park in St. Albans, Queens, New York. 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. Hammond introduced Helen Humes, whom Basie hired; she stayed with Basie for four years. 132 West 138th Street. 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. [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]. 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. To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine-piece band to 13 pieces. His second great band, from the 1950s onwards, relied more on arrangements, typically from Neil Hefti and Ernie Wilkin's. As a pianist Basie. She took in laundry and baked cakes for sale for a living. 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. His wife, Catherine, had died in 1983. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Count Basie and his Orchestra played at the tenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert also at Wrigley Field on June 20, 1954. experienced so many changes in musical fashion, especially after the 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 He then traveled from New York to Kansas City just to hear the band and to meet Count Basie. New Jersey, Report Accessibility Barrier or in the death of the big-band era. 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. His father played the mellophone, and his mother played the piano; in fact, she gave Basie his first piano lessons. [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". Born: August 21, 1904 [16] He met Fats Waller, who was playing organ at the Lincoln Theater accompanying silent movies, and Waller taught him how to play that instrument. 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Their only child, Diane, was born February 6, 1944. 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 . However, the man ended up betraying Basies trust, and he stole from Diane. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. expensive blunder in Basie's history," said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit--"Swingin' the Blues," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "One O'Clock It was at this time that he began to be known as "Count" Basie (see Jazz royalty).[19]. A longtime friend of jazz legend Count Basie is facing possible jail time for allegedly stealing $70,000 from the late bandleaders disabled daughter. I wanted those three trumpets and two trombones While he was in his late teens, he gravitated to Harlem, where he encountered Fats Waller. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Around 1920, Basie went to Harlem, a hotbed of jazz, where he lived down the block from the Alhambra Theater. The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, who's now a 74-year-old disabled woman. 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". 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. 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 When the Page band broke up in 1929, Mr. The band keeps on touring around the country under the direction of trumpeter Scotty Barnhart. Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. For the next two years he led small bands between six and nine pieces. 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 . 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. He died of cancer in We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Basie heard Bennie Motens band, and longed to play with them. Basie, Count. "flagwavers," 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. The "book" of this early Basie band was based on blues and riffs developed on a blues structure. 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. By 1937 Basie's band was, with the possible exception of Duke desktop goose android. Basie was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. A stocky, handsome man with heavy-lidded eyes and a sly smile, Basie was Then he joined a touring show headed by one Gonzel White, playing piano in a four-piece band. When Young complained of Herschel Evans' vibrato, Basie placed them on either side of the alto players, and soon had the tenor players engaged in "duels". 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. 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 As one critic put it, they "put wheels on all four bars of the beat," creating a smooth rhythmic flow over which Mr. Basie's other instrumentalists rode as though they were on a streamlined [56], Count Basie was the featured artist at the first Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field on September 23, 1945, which was produced by Leon Hefflin Sr.[57] Al Jarvis was the Emcee and other artists to appear on stage were Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers, The Peters Sisters, Slim and Bam, Valaida Snow, and Big Joe Turner. 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]. Individuals with disabilities are "He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name and that 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. Red Bank, New Jersey He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz He called Basie "Holy Man", "Holy Main", and just plain "Holy".[36]. Many musicians came to prominence under his direction, including the tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, the guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison, plunger trombonist Al Grey, and singers Jimmy Rushing, Helen Humes, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams. [35] Lester Young, known as "Prez" by the band, came up with nicknames for all the other band members. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas. 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. A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. Required fields are marked *. Where did Count Basie do most of his touring? He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. You never got tired of that business at the end.". Well, that was the last time I was ever introduced as Bill Basie. was a member of the Basie band in the 1940's. parents, Harvey and Lillian (Childs) Basie, were both musicians. I saw Count Basie himself perform in Melbourne Australia not long before he died, perhaps by a couple of years, can you please help me with a date of this tour, thanks. stylea solid rhythm backing the horn soloists, who were also with a particular soloist or two in mind. [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. On July 21, 1930, Basie married Vivian Lee Winn, in Kansas City, Missouri. [65], In 1958, the band made its first European tour. 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. 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 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. [34], By then, Basie's sound was characterized by a "jumping" beat and the contrapuntal accents of his own piano. Within a year CATHERINE BASIE. She was 67 years old. It positioned him with Earl Hines, as well as Duke Ellington. 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. The band broadcast from the Reno Club on an experimental radio station. What disability did Count Basies daughter have? Basie credited Billy Eckstine, a top male vocalist of the time, for prompting his return to Big Band. "April in Paris" (arrangement by Wild Bill Davis) was a best-selling instrumental and the title song for the hit album. 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. Neal Hefti began to provide arrangements, including "Lil Darlin'". The Barons of Rhythm were regulars at the Reno Club and often performed for a live radio broadcast. [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". 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). "and those tiny tinkling things. In the early 1970s, the Basies moved to the warmer climate of Freeport, Bahamas. After working briefly as house organist in a [29] Right from the start, Basie's band was known for its rhythm section. ", Basie at the piano, 1955, in a photographic portrait by, Los Angeles and the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. Basie liked the results and named the piece "One O'Clock Jump". accessibility issues with Rutgers web sites to accessibility@rutgers.edu [26] A year later, Basie joined Bennie Moten's band, and played with them until Moten died in 1935 from a failed tonsillectomy. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. [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. Charlie Parker forever changed the performance and writing of jazz music. How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. His touring took him to Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Chicago. [40] His first official recordings for Decca followed, under contract to agent MCA, including "Pennies from Heaven" and "Honeysuckle Rose". The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Basie died while her husband was appearing at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. [60] The jukebox era had begun, and Basie shared the exposure along with early rock'n'roll and rhythm and blues artists. 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. "And that's when the whole fire started," said Mr. Alexander. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. [75], Basie also recorded with Tony Bennett in the late 1950s. How old was Catherine Basie when she died? During his last years he had difficulty walking and By then, Basie was playing with pick-up groups for dances, resorts, and amateur shows, including Harry Richardson's "Kings of Syncopation". 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 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Who taught Count Basie how do you play the piano? "He was a wonderful man. 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. "Count.". He became an accompanist to the blues singers Clara Smith and Maggie Jones and he worked 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). After Vocalion became a subsidiary of Columbia Records in 1938, "Boogie Woogie" was released in 1941 as part of a four-record compilation album entitled Boogie Woogie (Columbia album C44). Once the musicians found what they liked, they usually were able to repeat it using their "head arrangements" and collective memory.[44].