While reports of Woodard being sent to jail never surfaced, one thing is for sure, and that is that Diane is doing great under her new caretakers. "And that's when the whole fire started," said Mr. Alexander. "He was the only leader in the business who ever went out of his way to help me," Mr. Basie said later. the Basie band. Basie liked the results and named the piece "One O'Clock Jump". 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". Count Basie's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths 1983. Copyright 2023, Rutgers, The State University of groups' recordings were of the highest quality, but in 1951 Basie 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). All We Know about the Award-Winning Composer, His Life, and Legacy, Rich Old Man Left More than $10M Estate to 11 Heirs One Keeps Portion Worth Millions for Herself, Who Is Lionel Richie Married To? Basie's 14-man band began playing at the Famous Door, a mid-town nightspot with a CBS network feed and air conditioning, which Hammond was said to have bought the club in return for their booking Basie steadily throughout the summer of 1938. Provide Feedback Form. Basie then formed his own nine-piece band, Barons of Rhythm, with many former Moten members including Walter Page (bass), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums),Lester Young (tenor saxophone) and Jimmy Rushing(vocals). Count Basie Biography - parents, death, history, wife, school, mother At thirty-four, he was dead from years of drug and alcohol use. His touring took him to Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Chicago. He played piano with them, with one interruption, for the When he came back to Harlem, Fats Waller showed him how to play the organ, and Willie the Lion Smith took him under his wing. Count Basie | Official Site for one of the greatest bandleaders of all [24] During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. It was a loose and swinging band, built around distinctively individualistic solos by Lester When his own band folded, he rejoined Moten with a newly re-organized band. "Of course, I wanted to play real jazz. Remember Count Basie? After he died, his friend apparently - AmoMama In May 2019, Basie was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Memphis, TN, presented by The Blues Foundation. Before he was 20 years old, he toured extensively on the Keith and TOBA vaudeville circuits as a solo pianist, accompanist, and music director for blues singers, dancers, and comedians. He developed a new style of jazz called bebop. Credit: GettyImages/Global Images of Ukraine. introductory notes, looked up at the drummer, nodded at the rest of the group and, when the combo took off, the musicians were playing as brilliantly and cleanly as they had been disheveled only Count Basie Birthday and Date of Death. Basie. William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader and composer. He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. Basie then formed his own nine-piece band, Barons of Rhythm, with many former Moten members including Walter Page (bass), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums), Lester Young (tenor saxophone) and Jimmy Rushing (vocals). For a year he played piano accompaniment to silent moves and then joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in Tulsa, Basie gave up her career to care for their daughter, who was mentally retarded, and their two adopted sons. [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". During a broadcast the announcer wanted to give Basie's name some style, so he called him "Count". The band survived Basie's death, with ex-Basie-ite trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his death in 1986. 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. [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. 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. [17], In 1928, Basie was in Tulsa and heard Walter Page and his Famous Blue Devils, one of the first big bands, which featured Jimmy Rushing on vocals. Behind the occasional bebop solos, he always kept his strict rhythmic pulse, "so it doesn't matter what they do up front; the audience gets the beat". The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Basie died while her husband was appearing at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. "When they let you in the door," Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic, reported, "it was like jumping into the center of a whirlwind. 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.She was 67 years old. It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. He was a big force in music. Basie had Holiday, and Webb countered with the singer Ella Fitzgerald. Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. in the death of the big-band era. A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. After Moten died in 1935, Basie took what was left of the band, expanded In 1942, they moved to Queens. ", Basie at the piano, 1955, in a photographic portrait by, Los Angeles and the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. [12][13] His touring took him to Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Chicago. Early years William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. How old was Catherine Basie when she died? Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. 1415. Encyclopedia of Jazz. Mr. Basie's band, more than any other, was the He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. "and those tiny tinkling things. She was born with cerebral palsy and the doctors claimed she would never walk. She died in 1983. 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. Date of Death: April 26, 1984. [46], The publicity over the big band battle, before and after, gave the Basie band a boost and wider recognition. Within a year Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. count basie daughter died - natural-therapy.com The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. It does not store any personal data. [77][78], Count Basie introduced several generations of listeners to the Big Band sound and left an influential catalog. Count Basie. Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. He reformed his group as a 16-piece orchestra in 1952. I thought he was kidding, shrugged my shoulders and replied, 'O.K.' 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. 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. Died: April 26, 1984 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. 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. In 2005, Count Basie's song "One O'Clock Jump" (1937) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. His piano style, which often seemed bare and simple, was an exquisitely realized condensation of the florid "stride" style of Fats Waller and James P. Johnson with whom Mr. Basie started. Performers of bebop left the traditional musical melody and played a song freely, with the music and rhythm that was felt at the time. Report Accessibility Barrier or "He was a wonderful man. African American bandleader and musician. By 1937 Basie's band was, with the possible exception of Duke [11] Soon, Basie met many of the Harlem musicians who were "making the scene," including Willie "the Lion" Smith and James P. Johnson. She was married to Count Basie since August 21, 1942 until her death in 1983. expensive blunder in Basie's history," said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit--"Swingin' the Blues," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "One O'Clock "I wanted my 13-piece band to work together just like those nine pieces," he explained. The band keeps on touring around the country under the direction of trumpeter Scotty Barnhart. However, throughout the 1940s, he maintained a big band that possessed an infectious rhythmic beat, an enthusiastic team spirit, and a long list of inspired and talented jazz soloists. 'No,' I said, 'but I'd Late one night with time to fill, the band started improvising. Once the musicians found what they liked, they usually were able to repeat it using their "head arrangements" and collective memory.[44]. From then on, it was Count Basie.". 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. with a particular soloist or two in mind. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1980. [43] Durham returned to help with arranging and composing, but for the most part, the orchestra worked out its numbers in rehearsal, with Basie guiding the proceedings. Next, Basie played at the Savoy, which was noted more for lindy-hopping, while the Roseland was a place for fox-trots and congas. Provide Feedback Form. [37] Soon, they were booked at the Roseland Ballroom for the Christmas show. [21] In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. (Lockjaw) Davis, Frank Wess, Jimmy Forrest and the blues singer Joe Williams. Count Basie | Official Site for one of the greatest bandleaders of all [22] William Basie was born to Lillian and Harvey Lee Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. He married Catherine Morgan on July 13, 1940, in the King County courthouse in Seattle, Washington. He occasionally played four-hand piano and dual pianos with Moten, who also conducted. William (Count) Basie, who produced more music with two fingers than most pianists get out of 10, died Thursday in a hospital in Hollywood, Fla., where he had been admitted . The loss of key personnel (some to military service), the wartime ban on of the band. He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. Basie earned nine Grammy Awardsand made history in 1958 by becoming the first African-American to receive the award. Basie changed the jazz landscape and shaped mid-20th century popular music, duly earning the title King of Swing because he made the world want to dance. Among his band's best-known numbers were "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Li'l Darlin'" and "April in Paris.". After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. Catherine L. "Katy" Morgan Basie (1914-1983) - Find a Grave Dance, Stanley. desktop goose android. 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. It was during this time that he was given the nickname This provided an early training that was to prove significant in his later career. [69] That summer, Basie and Duke Ellington combined forces for the recording First Time! Count Basie, byname of William Basie, (born August 21, 1904, Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.died April 26, 1984, Hollywood, Florida), American jazz musician noted for his spare, economical piano style and for his leadership of influential and widely heralded big bands. [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. 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. 3 What pianist lead the most successful band 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. New York: Random House, 1985. In May 1970, Sinatra performed in London's Royal Festival Hall with the Basie orchestra, in a charity benefit for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 01:33. From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging count basie daughter died a few moments before. Basie occasionally lost some key soloists. Sinatra later said of this concert "I have a funny feeling that those two nights could have been my finest hour, really. Basie is a part of the Big Band Leaders issue, which, is in turn, part of the Legends of American Music series. Biography - Count Basie - Rutgers University [68] He was a guest on ABC's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, a venue also opened to several other black entertainers. The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. [18] A few months later, he was invited to join the band, which played mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. was the reworking of a standard tune"I Got The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. 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. 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 His father, Harvey Lee Basie, was a coachman and a groundskeeper, and his mother, Lillian Childs Basie, was a laundress. Jazz Musician. A father of bebop, he influenced generations of musicians, and sparked the fire of one of the most important and successful American artistic movements. Count Basie, 79, Band Leader And Master of Swing, Dead - The New York Times Age at Death: 79. 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. In 2021s Elvis, a Count Basie poster is seen about 20 minutes into the movie. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. Biography - A Short Wiki. Page, a bassist--Jimmy Rushing, the blues signer, both of whom would be key members of Mr. Basie's band. The "book" of this early Basie band was based on blues and riffs developed on a blues structure. Neal Hefti began to provide arrangements, including "Lil Darlin'". Then I sat beside him and he taught me.". 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. Friend 'stole' $70K from jazz legend's disabled daughter How Did Count Basie Die? - FAQS Clear Individuals with disabilities are William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. One of Basie's biggest regrets was never recording with Louis Armstrong, though they shared the same bill several times. Basie made a few more movie appearances, such as in the Jerry Lewis film Cinderfella (1960) and the Mel Brooks movie Blazing Saddles (1974), playing a revised arrangement of "April in Paris". While Count Basie worked over 300 nights a year, Mrs. Basie was very active in charitable and civil rights organizations, and was recognized for her work by the major leaders of the day. There was a memorable concert at Town Hall several 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 . 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). [49] Adding to their play book, Basie received arrangements from Jimmy Mundy (who had also worked with Benny Goodman and Earl Hines), particularly for "Cherokee", "Easy Does It", and "Super Chief". 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. On Moten's death in 1935, Basie and several other core band members formed their own ensemble, the Barons of Rhythm. On May 23, 1985, William "Count" Basie was presented, posthumously, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Then when he develops his big band, he reunites with Eddie Durham. They have one child. The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Is the Count Basie Orchestra still alive? Soon after, Benny Goodman recorded their signature "One O'Clock Jump" with his band. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. Hollywood, Florida The band survived Basies death, with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. After working briefly as house organist in a and Sarah Vaughan (19241990). She was 67 years old. the band developed its own variation of the Kansas City swing Mechanic Street, where he grew up with his family, has the honorary title of Count Basie Way. After a decade-long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. was a member of the Basie band in the 1940's. 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, and others. In 2009, Edgecombe Avenue and 160th Street in, "Blues in Hoss' Flat," composed by Basie band member, Since 1963 "The Kid From Red Bank" has been the theme and. in Kansas City, Missouri. It positioned him with Earl Hines, as well as Duke Ellington. Basie also toured with Bennett, including a date at Carnegie Hall. 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. Advertisement Further Reading on Count Basie (193545) was unquestionably Basie's greatest. She even toured with the Basie Orchestra in the mid-1970s, and Fitzgerald and Basie also met on the 1979 albums A Classy Pair, Digital III at Montreux, and A Perfect Match, the last two also recorded live at Montreux. They had one daughter. silent movie theater, he joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During this period he also recorded with music greats, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. The couple had an only daughter, Diane Basie, whos now a 74-year-old disabled woman. At a theatre in Newark he was able to hear regular performances by the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton and others. While on one tour he became stranded 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". We've received your submission. big city hotel ballrooms. with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. Services will be private. the personnel, and formed the first Count Basie Orchestra. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several families in the area. Their neighbors included Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson and Milt Hinton. [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. "April in Paris," which became the trademark of the band 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. 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 The band tried to stay together but failed. recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. One of the band's most popular arrangements, "April in Paris," was written in 1955 by Wild Bill Davis, a jazz organist who had originally developed it for his own small group. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Basie of Freeport. See, Basie couldnt read music, so it was Eddie Durham who orchestrated his ideas for the Moten band and then later for the Basie band in New York for those Decca recordings. [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. On February 19, 1940, Count Basie and his Orchestra opened a four-week engagement at Southland in Boston, and they broadcast over the radio on February 20. Jimmy Rushing sang with Basie in the late 1930s. 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. [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. 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. As a young boy, Basie hated to see his parents working so hard, and vowed to help them get ahead. In 1976 Basie suffered a heart attack, but he returned to the bandstand With Billy Eckstine on the album Basie/Eckstine Incorporated, in 1959. 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. But in 2012, Manhattan Surrogates Court Justice Kristin Booth Glen removed Woodward from his guardian role after he failed to account for money that belonged to Diane. [48] When Eddie Durham left for Glenn Miller's orchestra, he was replaced by Dicky Wells. structure. went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. He constantly parried Chick's thundering haymakers with tantalizing runs and arpeggios which teased more and more force from his adversary. 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. in a 14th Street dance hall. His 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. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Another Basie innovation was the use of two tenor saxophone players; at the time, most bands had just one.
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