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. He became an accompanist to the blues singers Clara Smith and Maggie Jones and he worked Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.". [5][6], The best student in school, Basie dreamed of a traveling life, inspired by touring carnivals which came to town. In 1950, he headlined the Universal-International short film "Sugar Chile" Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet. At thirty-four, he was dead from years of drug and alcohol use. Soloists were less prominent in this second edition of the Basie band although it included some of the major jazz musicians of the post-50's years, such as Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Al Grey, Eddie 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 (Holiday did not record with Basie, as she had her own record contract and preferred working with small combos). 6 Who was Count Basies adopted son on Long Island? 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. Required fields are marked *. Born: August 21, 1904 Some argue Basie made some of his best work during the 1960s and 70sShiny Stocking, Lil Darlin, Corner Pocket,and even a hit single,Everyday I Have the Blues, with Joe Williams. The Gonzel White show was stranded in Kansas City, Mo., a fateful location for Mr. Basie. He got used to seeing me, as though I were part of the show. He developed a new style of jazz called bebop. The band will continue under the guidance of Aaron Woodward, an adopted son of Mr. Basie who has worked closely with the orchestra leader during the last year. Even more important was the fact that the Famous Door had national and local radio wires. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. He played piano with them, with one interruption, for the Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. This provided an early training that was to prove significant in his later career. Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie. Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. New Jersey, Report Accessibility Barrier or Dropping out of junior high school, Basie learned to operate lights for vaudeville and to improvise piano accompaniment for silent films at the local movie theater in his hometown that would eventually become the Count Basie Theatre. William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader and composer. the personnel, and formed the first Count Basie Orchestra. Within a year Press ESC to cancel. I wanted those three trumpets and two trombones Basie was married in two occasions, first to Vivian Lee Winn from 1930 to 1935, and later to Catherine Morgan, from 1940 until her death in 1983. Their fame took a huge leap. Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. Within less than six months, however, Mr. Basie was back at the keyboard. "When they let you in the door," Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic, reported, "it was like jumping into the center of a whirlwind. [67] The Basie band made two tours in the British Isles and on the second, they put on a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II, along with Judy Garland, Vera Lynn, and Mario Lanza. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Then I sat beside him and he taught me.". 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. [25] The band improved with several personnel changes, including the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Their daughter, Iska, died at the age of 14 after a series . "He certainly made a notch in musical history," said Benny Goodman, 75 years old, the jazz clarinetist and bandleader. count basie daughter died - natural-therapy.com [31] Hammond first heard Basie's band on the radio and went to Kansas City to check them out. The swing era band 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. He couldnt write music at the time, but his ear was perfect. many other famous artists, including Duke Ellington (18991974), dealing with the egos of his musicians. [77][78], Count Basie introduced several generations of listeners to the Big Band sound and left an influential catalog. Biography - A Short Wiki. [26] A year later, Basie joined Bennie Moten's band, and played with them until Moten died in 1935 from a failed tonsillectomy. time!". He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas. 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". 1983. [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. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1980. The pianist Count Basie died at the age of 79. ABC World News Tonight feature on death of Count Basie on - YouTube big city hotel ballrooms. See the Count Basie Orchestra Discography. Throughout his tours, Basie met many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong. [47], A few months later, Holiday left for Artie Shaw's band. African American bandleader and musician. During his last years he had difficulty walking and It was at this time that he began to be known as "Count" Basie (see Jazz royalty).[19]. Darlin'"), Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster ("Shiny Stockings") were among the most notable orchestrators. rehearsal and then written down later. Basie's band was sharing Birdland with such bebop musicians as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. His daughter, Diane Basie, now 71 and living in Florida. Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. 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. What pianist lead the most successful band in Kansas City? The Count Basie Orchestra recorded and played live with many iconic artists like Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tonny Benneth and Sarah Vaughan. Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. "I had dropped into the old Lincoln Theater in Harlem," Mr. Basie once recalled, "and I heard a young fellow beating it out on an organ. 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. Friend 'stole' $70K from jazz legend's disabled daughter 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. She was 67 years old. April 27, 1984 7 AM PT. At a White House reception, President Reagan said that Mr. Basie was "among the handful of musicians that helped change the path of American music in the 30's and the 40's" and that he had "revolutionized jazz.". With Mr. Basie's 13 men in full cry at one end of this elongated closet, the sound ricocheting off the walls and rocketing down from the low ceiling, no listener could escape the exhilarating power [27] According to Basie, "we hit it with the rhythm section and went into the riffs, and the riffs just stuck. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. In 2021s Elvis, a Count Basie poster is seen about 20 minutes into the movie. Diane died peacefully on October 15 after suffering a heart attack a few days before. It does not store any personal data. [32] He invited them to record, in performances which were Lester Young's earliest recordings. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. fame. recordings, the 1943 musicians' strike, the strain of They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. ABC World News Tonight feature on death of Count Basie on April 26, 1984 3,211 views Aug 26, 2016 26 Dislike Share Save pianopappy 7.27K subscribers Peter Jennings (who was a jazz an). 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Died: April 26, 1984 He married Catherine Morgan on July 13, 1940, in the King County courthouse in Seattle, Washington. Basie favored blues, and he would showcase some of the most notable blues singers of the era after he went to New York: Billie Holiday, Jimmy Rushing, Big Joe Turner, Helen Humes, and Joe Williams. expensive blunder in Basie's history," said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit--"Swingin' the Blues," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "One O'Clock Sinatra later said of this concert "I have a funny feeling that those two nights could have been my finest hour, really. He joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in 1928, and a year later, he started to play with Bennie Moten's band in Kansas City. ", Basie at the piano, 1955, in a photographic portrait by, Los Angeles and the Cavalcade of Jazz concerts. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Where did Count Basie do most of his touring? But I wanted that bite to be just as tasty and subtle as if it were the three brass I used to use. Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. Both of Basies parents were hard workers. The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Is the Count Basie Orchestra still alive? Sometimes the arrangement He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas. 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. groups' recordings were of the highest quality, but in 1951 Basie with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any 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". hired him. Count Basie and his Orchestra played at the tenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert also at Wrigley Field on June 20, 1954. How Did Count Basie Die? - FAQS Clear Count Basie | Official Site for one of the greatest bandleaders of all Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing.Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Basie was often recognized for his understated yet captivating style of piano playing and his precise, impeccable musical leadership. In 1935, Bennie Moten died and it was left to Basie to take some of the musicians from that orchestra and form his own, The Count Basie Orchestra, which is still alive and well today some 78 years later. He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. "[64] In 1957, Basie sued the jazz venue Ball and Chain in Miami over outstanding fees, causing the closure of the venue. Count Basie was a pianist, bandleader, and composer considered as one of the most popular figures in the jazz world. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Okla., a band that included--in addition to Mr. for the next quarter of a century. and Sarah Vaughan (19241990). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Some time in or before 1935, the now single Basie returned to New York City, renting a house at 111 West 138th Street, Manhattan, as evidenced by the 1940 census. Eventually, Moten generously let Basie sit in on piano. [73], On April 11, 1983, Catherine Basie died of heart disease at the couple's home in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Mr. Basie's wife, Catherine, died in April 1983. The agent, Willard Alexander, said Mrs. Who taught Count Basie how do you play the piano? The band flopped at a Pittsburgh hotel that had never booked a jazz band before. How did the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington differ? with Rutgers web sites to accessibility@rutgers.edu or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier or We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Dance, Stanley. William Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. The couple were true socialites - often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protg Quincy Jones. Even in Harlem, it puzzled the aware audiences at the Savoy Ballroom. Ellington was a composer who played piano, but he really used the band as his expressive instrument. the Basie band. "Count.". [5] Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. [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. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944. The Basie band played at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball, and in 1965 toured with Frank Sinatra. While on one tour he became stranded 4 What pianist and his orchestra were really popular in the big band era? To go on the road, Mr. Basie expanded his nine-piece band to 13 pieces. Count Basie | The Concert Database One of Basie's biggest regrets was never recording with Louis Armstrong, though they shared the same bill several times. This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 01:33. Teaches Jazz. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. His wife, Catherine, had died in 1983. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 3 What pianist lead the most successful band in Kansas City? Fletcher Henderson's band was playing at the Grand Terrace just before the Basie band arrived there. On July 21, 1930, Basie married Vivian Lee Winn, in Kansas City, Missouri. Provide Feedback Form. Famed record producer and journalist, John Hammond, heard the bands broadcast and began writing about the Orchestra to gain their attention. Now Joy Rosenthal, a court-appointed lawyer who is Dianes replacement guardian, wants to jail or fine Woodward, 68. Basie studied music with his mother and was later influenced by the Harlem pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, receiving informal tutelage on the organ from the latter. 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. Provide Feedback Form, Rutgers, The State University of He had an incredible ear, and could repeat any tune he heard. Bandleader, arranger and pianist Fletcher Henderson is one of the most influential and yet least-known jazz masters. "I wanted my 13-piece band to work together just like those nine pieces," he explained. He started out to be a drummer. Released: 1967 . He also recorded with Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, and Sarah Vaughan. in Kansas City, Missouri. Hes survived by his disabled daughter, Diane, who was allegedly the victim of a robbery at the hands of her late father's friend. Basie gave up her career to care for their daughter, who was mentally retarded, and their two adopted sons. Count Basie | Official Site for one of the greatest bandleaders of all The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. 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". The World of Count Basie. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? [18] A few months later, he was invited to join the band, which played mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. A pianist, Count Basie played vaudeville before eventually forming his own big band and helping to define the era of swing with hits like One OClock Jump and Blue Skies. In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award. superior arrangements (reflecting Basie's good taste) and the Basie now called Kansas City home. When the Page band broke up in 1929, Mr. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. The band survived Basies death, with trumpeter Thad Jones directing until his own death in 1986. They took up a regular engagement at Kansas City's Reno Club, and broadcast a nightly radio show. silent movie theater, he joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in She died in 1983. Is the Count Basie Orchestra still alive? 50 feet long, which was having trouble doing business in the summer because it had no air-conditioning. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The new band billed itself as Count Basie and his Cherry Blossom Orchestra, marking the first time that Count was officially added to his name. Age at Death: 79. [63] DownBeat magazine reported: "(Basie) has managed to assemble an ensemble that can thrill both the listener who remembers 1938 and the youngster who has never before heard a big band like this. 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. His daughter, Diane Basie, now 71 and living in Florida with full-time caregivers, is severely retarded and only marginally communicative, according to court papers. [48] When Eddie Durham left for Glenn Miller's orchestra, he was replaced by Dicky Wells. "April in Paris," which became the trademark of the band When his own band folded, he rejoined Moten with a newly re-organized band. As a young boy, Basie hated to see his parents working so hard, and vowed to help them get ahead. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. [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. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. 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. What pianist and his orchestra were really popular in the big band era? Late one night with time to fill, the band started improvising. Their neighbors included Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson and Milt Hinton. since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). 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). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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His wife, Catherine, had died in 1983; they had one daughter. years ago when a number of musicians, including Mr. Basie, were scheduled to perform in a variety of combinations. By then, Basie was playing with pick-up groups for dances, resorts, and amateur shows, including Harry Richardson's "Kings of Syncopation". On the West Coast, in 1942 the band did a spot in Reveille With Beverly, a musical film starring Ann Miller, and a "Command Performance" for Armed Forces Radio, with Hollywood stars Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Carmen Miranda, Jerry Colonna, and the singer Dinah Shore. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. 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. [4] Both of his parents had some type of musical background. [33] When he made the Vocalion recordings, Basie had already signed with Decca Records, but did not have his first recording session with them until January 1937. [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. He quickly made a name for himself playing the piano at local venues and parties around town until he moved to New York City in search of greater opportunities. Basie credited Billy Eckstine, a top male vocalist of the time, for prompting his return to Big Band. "He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name and that on a motorized wheelchair which he sometimes drove with joyful abandon. Despite the presence of Lester Young and Herschel Evans in the saxophone section, Buck Clayton in the trumpet section, Jo Jones on drums, with Jimmy Rushing and, briefly, Billie Holiday as vocalists, ', "The next day he invited me to sit in the pit and start working the pedals. the arrangements that enabled his band to break through a year earlier, lent Mr. Basie some of his arrangements. [30], In that city in October 1936, the band had a recording session which the producer John Hammond later described as "the only perfect, completely perfect recording session I've ever had anything to do with". Diane Basie | The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra He was a big force in music. One Great Band.Count Basie will always be remembered..Too bad he passed away.. His father played the mellophone, and his mother played the piano; in fact, she gave Basie his first piano lessons. Basie had Holiday, and Webb countered with the singer Ella Fitzgerald. He and his band recorded with Many other bands later adapted the split tenor arrangement. Count Basie, 79, Band Leader And Master of Swing, Dead - The New York Times 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. 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. We proudly celebrate Red Bank New Jersey's most famous musical son during . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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]. 132 West 138th Street. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well wishes. This group was eventually called the New Testament band. 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. Through steady changes in personnel, Basie led the band into the 1980s. The band survived Basie's death,