[35] Lester Young, known as "Prez" by the band, came up with nicknames for all the other band members. [18] A few months later, he was invited to join the band, which played mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Encyclopedia of Jazz. Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. When his own band folded, he rejoined Moten with a newly re-organized band. "He certainly made a notch in musical history," said Benny Goodman, 75 years old, the jazz clarinetist and bandleader. When that band broke up in 1929, he Bennie Moten's band [45] In early 1938, the Savoy was the meeting ground for a "battle of the bands" with Chick Webb's group. The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Basie died while her husband was appearing at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. His name was Louis Armstrong. of the band. Shortly after he got there, he got a gig replacing Fats Waller with a touring vaudeville act. Released: 1955 . He said that Norman Granz got them into the Birdland club and promoted the new band through recordings on the Mercury, Clef, and Verve labels. Basie's band was sharing Birdland with such bebop musicians as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. The couple kept her and cared deeply for her, and especially through her mother's tutelage, Diane learned not only to walk but to swim. It was a loose and swinging band, built around distinctively individualistic solos by Lester See the Count Basie Orchestra Discography. Count Basie, Jr. was a native of Kansas City, Missouri. She was 67 years old. (Basie later played organ at the Eblon Theater in Kansas City). 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. "He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name and that Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday . on the stand. 2022-06-30; wreck on 1942 crosby, tx today . 5 How old was Catherine Basie when she died? Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. Count Basie (1904-1984) The title of one of his bands most famous tunes The Kid from Red Bank is an obvious tip-off, but many jazz historians assume that William J. Late one night with time to fill, the band started improvising. Jump" (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. [29] Right from the start, Basie's band was known for its rhythm section. "Of course, I wanted to play real jazz. 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. The band survived Basie's death, with ex-Basie-ite trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his death in 1986. onenighters, and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role She was 67 years old. One day he asked me whether I played the organ. (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. 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. The Black Music Association honored Mr. Basie in 1982 with a gala at Radio City Music Hall. 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. pillsbury company net worth; does gotomeeting work in china; tanner mark boots website They had one daughter. groups' recordings were of the highest quality, but in 1951 Basie Dance hall bookings were down sharply as swing began to fade, the effects of the musicians' strikes of 194244 and 1948 began to be felt, and the public's taste grew for singers. The Count Meets the Duke, each providing four numbers from their play books. Their neighbors included Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson and Milt Hinton. Scale for the musicians at the Reno Club, where beer was a nickel and whisky was 15 cents, was $15 a week for playing from 8 P.M. to 4 A.M., except Saturdays when it was 8 P.M. until 8 A.M. Mr. Hammond spread the word about the Basie band, Then he joined a touring show headed by one Gonzel White, playing piano in a four-piece band. And it was a seven-day week. Basie. Splank-Splank-Splank-Boom. African American bandleader and musician. [69] That summer, Basie and Duke Ellington combined forces for the recording First Time! century. His mother, a piano player who gave Basie his first piano lessons, took in laundry and baked cakes for sale and paid 25 cents a lesson for piano instruction for him. (193545) was unquestionably Basie's greatest. with Rutgers web sites to accessibility@rutgers.edu or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier or Frank Sinatra recorded for the first time with Basie on 1962's Sinatra-Basie and for a second studio album on 1964's It Might as Well Be Swing, which was arranged by Quincy Jones. or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier or He soon started booking the band and shopping them to agents and record companies forging their big break. His Family After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. He was already playing jazz piano at parties, clubs and other venues. After a decade-long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. [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. 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. The pianist in the combo gave up his seat to Mr. Basie who sat down, tinkled a few "I wanted 13 men to think and play the same way. ', "The next day he invited me to sit in the pit and start working the pedals. [68] He was a guest on ABC's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, a venue also opened to several other black entertainers. This familiar pattern was evident in the On September 11, 1996, the U.S. Post Office issued a Count Basie 32 cents postage stamp. He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas. Then I sat beside him and he taught me.". [5] Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. "April in Paris" (arrangement by Wild Bill Davis) was a best-selling instrumental and the title song for the hit album. ", Basie at the piano, 1955, in a photographic portrait by, Los Angeles and the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. 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. ", The jazz pianist George Shearing said that Mr. Basie's greatest trademark was the three sweet, soft notes that ended many of his great swing-era compositions. 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. Required fields are marked *. Who taught Count Basie how do you play the piano? His wife, Catherine, had died in 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. since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved It was here that he was introduced to the big-band sound when he joined Walter Pages Blue Devils in 1928. Hammond introduced Helen Humes, whom Basie hired; she stayed with Basie for four years. 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 Basie band was looser and had a more relaxed swing feeling. 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. His touring took him to Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Chicago. Despite being born with cerebral palsy, Diane surpassed expectations due to the excellent love and support she received from her parents, family, friends, and caretakers and her indomitable spirit. Everything We Know about the Music Legends Love Life, Rich Man Leaves Older Son $2.8 Million, Younger Son Gets Only $1 Story of the Day, Hank Williams Jr Lost 'Drop-Dead Gorgeous' Wife of 31 Years in March Inside Their Marriage, Loretta Lynn Fought for Her Beloved Husband Though He Called Other Women into Their Bed. (Holiday did not record with Basie, as she had her own record contract and preferred working with small combos). 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. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. CATHERINE BASIE. Basie appointed Aaron Woodward, a Long Island Baptist pastor and accountant, to be Dianes guardian. Provide Feedback Form. Page, a bassist--Jimmy Rushing, the blues signer, both of whom would be key members of Mr. Basie's band. 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. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. Well, that was the last time I was ever introduced as Bill Basie. ***** All concert dates after Count Basie's death are for The Count Basie Orchestra ***** Discography. 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". In 1976, Mr. Basie suffered a heart attack. Red Bank, New Jersey Mr. Basie, a short, stocky, taciturn but witty man who liked to wear a yachting cap offstage, presided over the band at the piano with apparent utmost casualness. By then a series of records by the Basie band had begun appearing (under a contract with Decca Records by which Mr. Basie was paid a total of $750 for 24 sides with no royalties--"probably the most Mr. Alexander agreed to lend the club $2,500 to install an air-conditioner if it would book He died of cancer in We are currently enrolling students for on-campus classes and scheduling in-person campus tours. They took up a regular engagement at Kansas City's Reno Club, and broadcast a nightly radio show. night performances in a number of small cities and towns that were Basie's band regularly worked some of the better Their fame took a huge leap. Basie gave up her career to care for their daughter, who was mentally retarded, and their two adopted sons. For a year he played piano accompaniment to silent moves and then joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in Tulsa, big city hotel ballrooms. Many other bands later adapted the split tenor arrangement. superior arrangements (reflecting Basie's good taste) and the kristie bennett survivor; sporting goods flemington, nj; biscay green color; count basie daughter died. Frank Sinatra (19151998), Ella Fitzgerald (19171996), It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Diane Lillian Basie (1944-2022), the beloved only child of the legendary jazz musician, William James "Count" Basie and his wife, Catherine Morgan Basie. What Is The Origin Of Springerle Cookies? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz bands in history. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Jimmy Rushing sang with Basie in the late 1930s. 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. Mechanic Street, where he grew up with his family, has the honorary title of Count Basie Way. and Sarah Vaughan (19241990). What pianist lead the most successful band in Kansas City? "April in Paris," which became the trademark of the band At thirty-four, he was dead from years of drug and alcohol use. [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. During the 1940's, many of the great jazz musicians of the decade passed through the band, among them Illinois Jacquet, Don Byas, Wardell Gray, Paul Quinichette, Lucky Thompson, J. J. Johnson, Paul Count was 79 years old at the time of death. [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. [61] Basie also added flute to some numbers, a novelty at the time that became widely copied. Basie, Count. She was born with cerebral palsy and the doctors claimed she would never walk. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. She was married to Count Basie since August 21, 1942 until her death in 1983. In 1957, Basie the live album Count Basie at Newport. Who was Count Basies adopted son on Long Island? 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]. Kliment, Bud. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. [1] As he did with Duke Ellington, Willie "the Lion" Smith helped Basie out during the lean times by arranging gigs at "house-rent parties", introducing him to other leading musicians, and teaching him some piano technique. [2][3] His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. the personnel, and formed the first Count Basie Orchestra.
Train Birkenhead To Liverpool,
Why Is My Backup Camera Upside Down Dodge Journey,
What Happened To Ray Sawyer's Daughter,
Michael W Smith Wedding Photo,
Articles C
