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Count Basie

Aug 21, 1904 - Apr 26, 1984 (79 years old) in Red Bank, New Jersey, USA

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

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The Steve Allen Show
Self - Conductor
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Blazing Saddles
Self
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The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
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Cinderfella
Count Basie
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Top Man
Orchestra Leader
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The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
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The Hollywood Palace
Self - Pianist
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Piano Blues
Self (archive footage)
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ABC Stage 67
Self
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Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (voice) (archive sound)

Credits