Count Basie

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

48

Gender

Male

Birthday

1904-08-21

Day of death

1984-04-26 (79 years old)

Place of Birth

Red Bank, New Jersey, USA

Count Basie

Biography

William James "Count" Basie (/ˈbeɪsi/; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. 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, his minimalist piano style, and others. 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, Dennis Rowland, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams. As a composer, Basie is known for writing such jazz standards as "Blue and Sentimental", "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "One O'Clock Jump". Description above from the Wikipedia article Count Basie, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • The Steve Allen Show

    The Steve Allen Show

  • The Steve Allen Show

    The Steve Allen Show

  • The Steve Allen Show

    The Steve Allen Show

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • The Kennedy Center Honors

    The Kennedy Center Honors

  • The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

  • Blazing Saddles

    Blazing Saddles

  • Sid & Judy

    Sid & Judy

  • Policy Man

    Policy Man

  • The Hollywood Palace

    The Hollywood Palace

  • Cinderfella

    Cinderfella

  • Piano Blues

    Piano Blues

  • ABC Stage 67

    ABC Stage 67

  • Rat Pack

    Rat Pack

  • Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes

    Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes

  • Jamboree!

    Jamboree!

  • All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater

    All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater

  • Billie

    Billie

  • The Judy Garland Show

    The Judy Garland Show

  • Crazy House

    Crazy House

  • Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

    Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

  • Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

    Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

  • Judy Garland Duets

    Judy Garland Duets

  • The Big Show

    The Big Show

  • Frank Sinatra Spectacular

    Frank Sinatra Spectacular

  • Stage Door Canteen

    Stage Door Canteen

  • Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music

    Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music

  • Improvisation

    Improvisation

  • The Harlem Renaissance

    The Harlem Renaissance

  • Rhythm and Blues Revue

    Rhythm and Blues Revue

  • 'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet

    'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet

  • Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

    Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

  • Air Mail Special

    Air Mail Special

  • Top Man

    Top Man

  • Basie Boogie

    Basie Boogie

  • Ebony Parade

    Ebony Parade

  • Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62

    Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62

  • Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music

    Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music

  • Cavalcade of Bands

    Cavalcade of Bands

  • Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

    Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

  • Music Inn

    Music Inn

  • New York in the Fifties

    New York in the Fifties

  • The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story

    The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story

  • Take Me Back, Baby

    Take Me Back, Baby

  • Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"

    Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"