While on one tour he became stranded "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. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. 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. She died in 1983. 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. Count Basie made most of his albums with his big band. A stocky, handsome man with heavy-lidded eyes and a sly smile, Basie was [21] In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. 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. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". onto every note, sitting behind him all the time. They paced themselves to save their hottest numbers for later in the show, to give the audience a chance to warm up. [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. Splank-Splank-Splank-Boom. Jazz icon, Count Basie, was born William JamesBasie August 21, 1904in Red Bank, New Jersey. [37] Soon, they were booked at the Roseland Ballroom for the Christmas show. Count Basie was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. [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. He also hired arrangers who knew how to maximize the band's abilities, such as Eddie Durham and Jimmy Mundy. We've received your submission. The pianist Count Basie died at the age of 79. He occasionally played four-hand piano and dual pianos with Moten, who also conducted. "One night the announcer called me to the microphone for those usual few words of introduction," Mr. Basie once recalled. William James "Count" Basie learned how to play the piano at an early age under his mothers instructions. Who was Count Basies adopted son on Long Island? Biography - A Short Wiki. for the next quarter of a century. Darlin'"), Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster ("Shiny Stockings") were among the most notable orchestrators. He married Catherine Morgan on July 13, 1940, in the King County courthouse in Seattle, Washington. 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". However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Performers of bebop left the traditional musical melody and played a song freely, with the music and rhythm that was felt at the time. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. On Moten's death in 1935, Basie and several other core band members formed their own ensemble, the Barons of Rhythm. "He certainly made a notch in musical history," said Benny Goodman, 75 years old, the jazz clarinetist and bandleader. recordings, the 1943 musicians' strike, the strain of She was 67 years old. [5] Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. [45] In early 1938, the Savoy was the meeting ground for a "battle of the bands" with Chick Webb's group. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. 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. [61] Basie also added flute to some numbers, a novelty at the time that became widely copied. Another Basie innovation was the use of two tenor saxophone players; at the time, most bands had just one. [42] The band's first appearance at the Apollo Theater followed, with the vocalists Holiday and Jimmy Rushing getting the most attention. She took in laundry and baked cakes for sale for a living. 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. cushion. count basie daughter died. The band survived Basie's death, Basie had Holiday, and Webb countered with the singer Ella Fitzgerald. Their albums together included In Person and Strike Up the Band. [76] In 1968, Basie and his Band recorded an album with Jackie Wilson titled Manufacturers of Soul. Received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1974. [89] The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. At a theatre in Newark he was able to hear regular performances by the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton and others. Their daughter, Iska, died at the age of 14 after a series . 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 . After working briefly as house organist in a Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. 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. This stemmed primarily from the presence in the rhythm section, from 1937 to the present, of both Mr. Basie on piano and Freddie Green on guitar. In 1950, financial restraints forced Basie to disband the orchestra. 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. By 1937 Basie's band was, with the possible exception of Duke 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). After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. fast-paced tunes designed to excite the audience. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several families in the area. Count Basie and his Orchestra played at the tenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert also at Wrigley Field on June 20, 1954. non-soloing brass and reeds). 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". band in America. [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]. He constantly parried Chick's thundering haymakers with tantalizing runs and arpeggios which teased more and more force from his adversary. 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. (Lockjaw) Davis, Frank Wess, Jimmy Forrest and the blues singer Joe Williams. He had an incredible ear, and could repeat any tune he heard. Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One O'Clock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. Count was 79 years old at the time of death. They also toured with the "Birdland Stars of 1955", whose lineup included Sarah Vaughan, Erroll Garner, Lester Young, George Shearing, and Stan Getz.[66]. traveled to by bus). 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. Mr. Basie's band, more than any other, was the [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. showcase the band's brilliant soloists. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several wealthy families in the area. recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. The place catered to "uptown celebrities", and typically the band winged every number without sheet music using "head arrangements". He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz A longtime friend of jazz legend Count Basie is facing possible jail time for allegedly stealing $70,000 from the late bandleaders disabled daughter. 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. He played piano with them, with one interruption, for the saxophonist Lester Young. It was at this time that he began to be known as "Count" Basie (see Jazz royalty).[19]. Unostentatious as Mr. Basie appeared, his presence was a vital factor in directing his band or any group of musicians with whom he might be playing. [11] Soon, Basie met many of the Harlem musicians who were "making the scene," including Willie "the Lion" Smith and James P. Johnson. 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.) William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. dealing with the egos of his musicians. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. Fletcher Henderson's band was playing at the Grand Terrace just before the Basie band arrived there. Their neighbors included Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson and Milt Hinton. 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. 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. [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. [18] A few months later, he was invited to join the band, which played mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. The funeral service will be at noon on Monday at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, Among his band's best-known numbers were "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Li'l Darlin'" and "April in Paris.". From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! 2022-06-30; wreck on 1942 crosby, tx today . 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.

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