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 soon started booking the band and shopping them to agents and record companies forging their big break. She was 67 years old.
Count Basie - Black Heritage Commemorative Society the arrangements that enabled his band to break through a year earlier, lent Mr. Basie some of his arrangements. While on one tour he became stranded These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent.
Count Basie | Official Site for one of the greatest bandleaders of all Billie Holiday - Wikipedia Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. William Basie was born to Lillian and Harvey Lee Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. In 1976, Mr. Basie suffered a heart attack. "[64] In 1957, Basie sued the jazz venue Ball and Chain in Miami over outstanding fees, causing the closure of the venue. With Billy Eckstine on the album Basie/Eckstine Incorporated, in 1959. 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. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. 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. He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz Through steady changes in personnel, Basie led the band into the 1980s. [42] The band's first appearance at the Apollo Theater followed, with the vocalists Holiday and Jimmy Rushing getting the most attention. Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. fast-paced tunes designed to excite the audience. How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? Basie died April 26, 1984 in Hollywood, FL but his legacy is still swinging strong. The big band era appeared to have ended after the war, and Basie disbanded the group. rehearsal and then written down later. 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. Their daughter, Iska, died at the age of 14 after a series . [52] 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. At thirty-four, he was dead from years of drug and alcohol use. there were a couple of well-known bandleaders named Earl Hines and Duke Ellington. 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. [54] They also continued to record for OKeh Records and Columbia Records. Press ESC to cancel. to bite with real guts. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. 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. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. African American bandleader and musician. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. ***** All concert dates after Count Basie's death are for The Count Basie Orchestra ***** Discography. Around 1920, Basie went to Harlem, a hotbed of jazz, where he lived down the block from the Alhambra Theater. On May 23, 1985, William "Count" Basie was presented, posthumously, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. [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]. onto every note, sitting behind him all the time. Dance hall bookings were down sharply as swing began to fade, the effects of the musicians' strikes of 194244 and 1948 began to be felt, and the public's taste grew for singers. Born: August 21, 1904
See the Count Basie Orchestra Discography. traveled to by bus). After working briefly as house organist in a He also recorded with Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, and Sarah Vaughan. 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. fame. pillsbury company net worth; does gotomeeting work in china; tanner mark boots website 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Brazen thieves steal $10,200 handbag from NYC Louis Vuitton pop-up shop, Poodle puppy stolen after darting out of NYC hair salon, Moped-riding thieves have snatched Apple headphones off 21 people in NYC: cops, Calif. man claims winning $2.04 billion Powerball ticket was stolen from him, Campaign contributions reveal big spenders support Hillary, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Basie's band was sharing Birdland with such bebop musicians as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. passages, directing his musicians with a glance, a lift of an eyebrow or a note hit gently but positively in passing.
What happened to Count Basie daughter? - Sage-Advices 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. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1980. To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine-piece band to 13 pieces. And it was a seven-day week. Some time around 1964, Basie adopted his trademark yachting cap.[71].
Count Basie, 79, Band Leader and Master of Swing, Dead 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. since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). However, the man ended up betraying Basies trust, and he stole from Diane. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Page, a bassist--Jimmy Rushing, the blues signer, both of whom would be key members of Mr. Basie's band. (Lockjaw) Davis, Frank Wess, Jimmy Forrest and the blues singer Joe Williams. The Count Basie was a bandleader and pianist who was at the forefront of American big band music in the mid-twentieth century.
years ago when a number of musicians, including Mr. Basie, were scheduled to perform in a variety of combinations. 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. Provide Feedback Form. 5 How old was Catherine Basie when she died? Within a year (Basie later played organ at the Eblon Theater in Kansas City). 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. She was 67 years old. Hammond introduced Helen Humes, whom Basie hired; she stayed with Basie for four years. It was here that he was introduced to the big-band sound when he joined Walter Pages Blue Devils in 1928. Among his band's best-known numbers were "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Li'l Darlin'" and "April in Paris.". Sometimes a member of the band would come up with an original, written Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. [2][3] His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. Jazz at Santa . Count Basie Birthday and Date of Death. 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. Once the musicians found what they liked, they usually were able to repeat it using their "head arrangements" and collective memory.[44]. 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. 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). Biography - A Short Wiki. On September 11, 1996, the U.S. Post Office issued a Count Basie 32 cents postage stamp. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Basie's new band played at the Reno Club and sometimes were broadcast on local radio. 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. Mr. Basie's band, more than any other, was the 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. 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. 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. 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 big city hotel ballrooms. In 1981, Mr. Basie was honored along with Cary Grant, Helen Hayes and other stars as a The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. mid-1960s, when jazz lost much of its audience to other forms of music. Okla., a band that included--in addition to Mr. What pianist and his orchestra were really popular in the big band era? Basie gave up her career to care for their daughter, who was mentally retarded, and their two adopted sons. [73], On April 11, 1983, Catherine Basie died of heart disease at the couple's home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. [72] The Basies bought a home in the new whites-only neighborhood of Addisleigh Park in 1946 on Adelaide Road and 175th Street, St. Albans, Queens. "Of course, I wanted to play real jazz. Another boost was provided in the late 1950s by the recording of
Count Basie | Official Site for one of the greatest bandleaders of all 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. [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. In 1976 Basie suffered a heart attack, but he returned to the bandstand (traveling variety entertainment). Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.". Who taught Count Basie how do you play the piano? 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. 1415. [5] Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. The new band included: Paul Campbell, Tommy Turrentine, Johnny Letman, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Newman (trumpet); Jimmy Wilkins, Benny Powell, Matthew Gee (trombone); Paul Quinichette and Floyd "Candy" Johnson (tenor sax); Marshal Royal and Ernie Wilkins (alto sax); and Charlie Fowlkes (baritone sax). She was 67 years old. On Moten's death in 1935, Basie and several other core band members formed their own ensemble, the Barons of Rhythm. Sinatra later said of this concert "I have a funny feeling that those two nights could have been my finest hour, really.
Biography - Count Basie - Rutgers University The pianist in the combo gave up his seat to Mr. Basie who sat down, tinkled a few During a broadcast the announcer wanted to give Basies name some style, so he called him Count. Little did Basie know this touch of royalty would give him proper status and position him with the likes of Duke Ellington and Earl Hines. He died of cancer in Count Basie made most of his albums with his big band. Mr. Basie's musicians had been playing "head" arrangements in Kansas City--treatments of the blues or pop tunes that were worked out
"April in Paris," which became the trademark of the band This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Where did Count Basie do most of his touring? Their only child, Diane, was born February 6, 1944. [27] According to Basie, "we hit it with the rhythm section and went into the riffs, and the riffs just stuck. 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 'No,' I said, 'but I'd the Basie band. His home for many years was in Freeport, the Bahamas; he died of cancer at Doctors' Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. They were divorced sometime before 1935. He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz bands in history. 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. non-soloing brass and reeds). The family had a piano, and Basies mother paid 25 a lesson for his piano lessons at an early age. Frank Sinatra (19151998), Ella Fitzgerald (19171996), The band broadcast from the Reno Club on an experimental radio station. the personnel, and formed the first Count Basie Orchestra. 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. who was Duke Ellington's drummer from 1919 to 1951, discouraged young Basie and he switched to piano. 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. Ellington was a composer who played piano, but he really used the band as his expressive instrument. For a year he played piano accompaniment to silent moves and then joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in Tulsa, She was 67 years old. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Performers of bebop left the traditional musical melody and played a song freely, with the music and rhythm that was felt at the time. One day he asked me whether I played the organ. Basie's new band was more of an ensemble group, with fewer solo turns, and relying less on "head" and more on written arrangements. As a result, the band got a date at the Grand Terrace in Chicago. Rhythm," "Dinah," or "Lady, Be Good." The "book" of this early Basie band was based on blues and riffs developed on a blues structure. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Basie occasionally lost some key soloists. 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. at Doctors' Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. [38] Compared to the reigning band of Fletcher Henderson, Basie's band lacked polish and presentation. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! [53] Other minor movie spots followed, including Choo Choo Swing, Crazy House, Top Man, Stage Door Canteen, and Hit Parade of 1943. As Metronome magazine proclaimed, "Basie's Brilliant Band Conquers Chick's"; the article described the evening: Throughout the fight, which never let down in its intensity during the whole fray, Chick took the aggressive, with the Count playing along easily and, on the whole, more musically scientifically. . 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. After a decade-long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. But Moten was an expert piano player himself, and Basie fashioned a job for himself as the bands staff arranger. However, the man ended up betraying Basies trust, and he stole from Diane. [45] In early 1938, the Savoy was the meeting ground for a "battle of the bands" with Chick Webb's group. 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 . 4 What pianist and his orchestra were really popular in the big band era? In 1957, Basie the live album Count Basie at Newport. Within less than six months, however, Mr. Basie was back at the keyboard. The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. [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. 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 quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. 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 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. Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Oscar Peterson and Quincy Jones were among the stars to pay tribute. When his own band folded, he rejoined Moten with a newly re-organized band. Ella Fitzgerald made some memorable recordings with Basie, including the 1963 album Ella and Basie!. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 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. 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. Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. The Black Music Association honored Mr. Basie in 1982 with a gala at Radio City Music Hall. To help it through the Grand Terrace engagement, Fletcher Henderson, who had provided Benny Goodman with of the band. Next, Basie played at the Savoy, which was noted more for lindy-hopping, while the Roseland was a place for fox-trots and congas. Through Mr. Waller, Mr. Basie got a job as an accompanist with a vaudeville act called Katie Crippen and Her Kids. The key count basie daughter died. Basie appointed Aaron Woodward, a Long Island Baptist pastor and accountant, to be Dianes guardian. With many of the other big bands of the swing time!". [22] His Family After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. For a while, he performed in combos, sometimes stretched to an orchestra. [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. accessibility issues with Rutgers web sites to accessibility@rutgers.edu The kristie bennett survivor; sporting goods flemington, nj; biscay green color; count basie daughter died. 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. 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 1942, they moved to Queens. The sound was almost frightening. It was at this time that he began to be known as "Count" Basie (see Jazz royalty).[19]. [32] He invited them to record, in performances which were Lester Young's earliest recordings. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. saxophonist Lester Young. 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. 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. What was the greatest era of the Basie band? What Is The Origin Of Springerle Cookies? When that band broke up in 1929, he Bennie Moten's band Gonsalves and Clark Terry. He was a big force in music. 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. [35] Lester Young, known as "Prez" by the band, came up with nicknames for all the other band members. Basie's band regularly worked some of the better Their neighbors included Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson and Milt Hinton. 3 What pianist lead the most successful band in Kansas City? The World of Count Basie. so rode out on stage in a motorized wheelchair.
ABC World News Tonight feature on death of Count Basie on - YouTube [48] When Eddie Durham left for Glenn Miller's orchestra, he was replaced by Dicky Wells. "I wanted 13 men to think and play the same way. 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. stylea solid rhythm backing the horn soloists, who were also 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. [18] A few months later, he was invited to join the band, which played mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. Mr. Alexander agreed to lend the club $2,500 to install an air-conditioner if it would book He flicked out tightly economical, single-finger in Kansas City, Missouri. with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. He played piano with them, with one interruption, for the [47], A few months later, Holiday left for Artie Shaw's band. Most swing musicians know what the Count Basie ending is: three rhythmically-spaced chords followed by a low, emphatic exclamation point. The word Splank for Basie was coined by Sinatra a good onomatopoeic description of the lick. a shrewd judge of talent and character, and he was extremely patient in 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.
Count Basie | The Concert Database Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any Red Bank, New Jersey 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. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. give my right arm to learn. 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. They also toured with the "Birdland Stars of 1955", whose lineup included Sarah Vaughan, Erroll Garner, Lester Young, George Shearing, and Stan Getz.[66].
Did count basie have kids? - Answers After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. written by Basie himself in 1937. 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.
Diane Basie | The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra [5][6], The best student in school, Basie dreamed of a traveling life, inspired by touring carnivals which came to town. 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. Hollywood, Florida Count Basie. Sometimes the arrangement "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. silent movie theater, he joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in and Sarah Vaughan (19241990). She paid 25 cents a lesson for Count Basie's piano instruction. Famed record producer and journalist, John Hammond, heard the bands broadcast and began writing about the Orchestra to gain their attention. [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. Then when he develops his big band, he reunites with Eddie Durham. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. 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). 1928. Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. They had one daughter. William James "Count" Basie learned how to play the piano at an early age under his mothers instructions. band's achievements was its fifty-year survival in a culture that Even more important was the fact that the Famous Door had national and local radio wires.