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 Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • 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 Dinah Shore Chevy Show

    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Rat Pack

    Rat Pack

  • The Kennedy Center Honors

    The Kennedy Center Honors

  • Billie

    Billie

  • Jamboree!

    Jamboree!

  • Blazing Saddles

    Blazing Saddles

  • Piano Blues

    Piano Blues

  • ABC Stage 67

    ABC Stage 67

  • The Hollywood Palace

    The Hollywood Palace

  • Judy Garland Duets

    Judy Garland Duets

  • Rhythm and Blues Revue

    Rhythm and Blues Revue

  • Improvisation

    Improvisation

  • Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

    Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

  • The Judy Garland Show

    The Judy Garland Show

  • Cinderfella

    Cinderfella

  • The Big Show

    The Big Show

  • Frank Sinatra Spectacular

    Frank Sinatra Spectacular

  • Air Mail Special

    Air Mail Special

  • Sid & Judy

    Sid & Judy

  • Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

    Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

  • Stage Door Canteen

    Stage Door Canteen

  • Crazy House

    Crazy House

  • Ebony Parade

    Ebony Parade

  • Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

    Count Basie At Carnegie Hall

  • Top Man

    Top Man

  • Cavalcade of Bands

    Cavalcade of Bands

  • Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music

    Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music

  • The Harlem Renaissance

    The Harlem Renaissance

  • Basie Boogie

    Basie Boogie

  • Music Inn

    Music Inn

  • Take Me Back, Baby

    Take Me Back, Baby

  • Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music

    Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music

  • Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes

    Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes

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

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

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

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

  • Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

    Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

  • 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

  • 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"

  • Policy Man

    Policy Man

  • Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62

    Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62