Known For
Acting
Born
Aug 21, 1904
Died
Apr 26, 1984
Place of Birth
Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Credits
51 titles
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
Filmography
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (voice) (archive sound)
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
Self (archive footage)
Billie
self
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
Sid & Judy
Self (archive footage)
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
Self (archive footage)
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
Self
Music Inn
Himself (archive footage)
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
Himself
Sentimental Journey
In Memory Of
Judy Garland Duets
Self (archive footage)
Improvisation
Self
The Harlem Renaissance
Self (archive footage)
Piano Blues
Self (archive footage)
New York in the Fifties
Self
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
Self
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
Self
The Big Show
Self
The Last of the Blue Devils
Self
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
Sself (Piano, Conductor)
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
Blazing Saddles
Self
ABC Stage 67
Self
Made in Paris
Count Basie
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Self
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Pianist
The Judy Garland Show
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
Cinderfella
Count Basie
Astaire Time
Self
Startime
Self
Jamboree!
Count Basie
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Conductor
Rhythm and Blues Revue
Self
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
Basie Boogie
Cavalcade of Bands
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
Killer Diller
Original Music Composer
Crazy House
Count Basie
Top Man
Orchestra Leader
Stage Door Canteen
Count Basie
Air Mail Special
Self
Take Me Back, Baby
Policy Man
Count Basie