The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? [29] Right from the start, Basie's band was known for its rhythm section. [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. Basie and his Orchestra appeared in five films, all released within a matter of months in 1943:Hit Parade, Reveille with Beverly, Stage Door Canteen, Top Man, andCrazy House. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1980. 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 . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He occasionally played four-hand piano and dual pianos with Moten, who also conducted. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. 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. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Soon after, Benny Goodman recorded their signature "One O'Clock Jump" with his band. During a broadcast the announcer wanted to give Basie's name some style, so he called him "Count". Provide Feedback Form, Rutgers, The State University of Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Basie of Freeport. 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. [8], Though a natural at the piano, Basie preferred drums. Jump" (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. His Family After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Around 1920, Basie went to Harlem, a hotbed of jazz, where he lived down the block from the Alhambra Theater. era he also shared the less appealing one-nighters (a series of single 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. 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. [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. "Count.". [31] Hammond first heard Basie's band on the radio and went to Kansas City to check them out. to bite with real guts. In 2012, Manhattan Surrogates Court Justice Kristin Booth Glen removed Woodward from his position as Diane guardian after he failed to explain the missing money from Dianes account. was a member of the Basie band in the 1940's. Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. [62] Soon, his band was touring and recording again. While on one tour he became stranded in Kansas City, Missouri. Received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1974. [38] Compared to the reigning band of Fletcher Henderson, Basie's band lacked polish and presentation. Through steady changes in personnel, Basie led the band into the 1980s. This group was eventually called the New Testament band. To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine-piece band to 13 pieces. or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier or Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Copyright 2023, Rutgers, The State University of In May 2019, Basie was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Memphis, TN, presented by The Blues Foundation. When we played pop tunes--and, naturally, we had to--I wanted those pops to kick! ", Basie at the piano, 1955, in a photographic portrait by, Los Angeles and the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. But it was in Harlem, New York City, that he learned the basics of piano, mainly from his sometime organ teacher, the great Fats Waller (19041943). Among his band's best-known numbers were "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Li'l Darlin'" and "April in Paris.". 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. [39], The producer John Hammond continued to advise and encourage the band, and they soon came up with some adjustments, including softer playing, more solos, and more standards. Basie studied music with his mother and was later influenced by the Harlem pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, receiving informal tutelage on the organ from the latter. 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.) The Black Music Association honored Mr. Basie in 1982 with a gala at Radio City Music Hall. 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 Basie also toured with Bennett, including a date at Carnegie Hall. Late one night with time to fill, the band started improvising. 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. epitome of swing, of jazz that moved with a built-in flowing intensity. Basie added touches of bebop "so long as it made sense", and he required that "it all had to have feeling". 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. Kliment, Bud. [55] The war years caused a lot of members turn over, and the band worked many play dates with lower pay. 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. The Count Basie Orchestra recorded and played live with many iconic artists like Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tonny Benneth and Sarah Vaughan. kristie bennett survivor; sporting goods flemington, nj; biscay green color; count basie daughter died. Their daughter, Iska, died at the age of 14 after a series . at Doctors' Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. 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 After Moten died in 1935, Basie took what was left of the band, expanded 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 They were divorced sometime before 1935. He is credited for creating the use of the two split tenor saxophone, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, using arrangers to broaden their sound, and beautifully layering masterful vocalists. His name was Louis Armstrong. 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. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. Credit: GettyImages/Global Images of Ukraine. 5 How old was Catherine Basie when she died? "April in Paris" (arrangement by Wild Bill Davis) was a best-selling instrumental and the title song for the hit album. The band tried to stay together but failed. He developed a new style of jazz called bebop. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. "He was a wonderful man. I sat on the floor watching his feet and using my hands to imitate him. 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. Within less than six months, however, Mr. Basie was back at the keyboard. 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. vaudeville circuits; and as a soloist and accompanist to blues singer Gonzelle White as well as Crippen. Here is all you want to know, and more! From 1929 to 1932, Basie was part of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra: In 1958, Basie became the first African-American to win a Grammy Award. This provided an early training that was to prove significant in his later career. Encyclopedia of Jazz. 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. 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. [69] That summer, Basie and Duke Ellington combined forces for the recording First Time! How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? African American bandleader and musician. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. 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. count basie daughter died. [45] In early 1938, the Savoy was the meeting ground for a "battle of the bands" with Chick Webb's group. The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. While on one tour he became stranded (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. [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. He played along with The Flairs, Christine Kittrell, Lamp Lighters, Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five, Ruth Brown, and Perez Prado and his Orchestra.[59]. [21] In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. [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". [76] In 1968, Basie and his Band recorded an album with Jackie Wilson titled Manufacturers of Soul. Splank-Splank-Splank-Boom. 1928. Discography of American Historical Recordings, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Count_Basie&oldid=1137147837, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Best Jazz Performance by a Soloist (Instrumental), Best Performance by an Orchestra For Dancing. It does not store any personal data. The loss of key personnel (some to military service), the wartime ban on What was the greatest era of the Basie band? After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. [50] In 1939, Basie and his band made a major cross-country tour, including their first West Coast dates. 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. was the reworking of a standard tune"I Got Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Even in Harlem, it puzzled the aware audiences at the Savoy Ballroom. [9] When not playing a gig, he hung out at the local pool hall with other musicians, where he picked up on upcoming play dates and gossip. factor in popularizing it was a series of repetitions of the final few bars when, as the orchestra seemingly came to the end of the piece, Mr. Basie held up a finger and called out, "One mo' superior arrangements (reflecting Basie's good taste) and the Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. 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. 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. [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. [25] The band improved with several personnel changes, including the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. The band flopped at a Pittsburgh hotel that had never booked a jazz band before. Died: April 26, 1984 By then, Basie was playing with pick-up groups for dances, resorts, and amateur shows, including Harry Richardson's "Kings of Syncopation". 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved