Count Basie
Born: 1904-08-21 in Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Died: 1984-04-26
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2022
- Rat Pack as Self (archive footage)
- Charlie Parker: Bird Songs as Self (archive footage)
- Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues as Self (voice) (archive sound)
2020
2019
- Sid & Judy as Self (archive footage)
2014
- Jazz Legends in Their Own Words as Self (archive footage)
2007
- Music Inn as Himself (archive footage)
2006
- Sentimental Journey ... (In Memory Of)
- Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62 as Himself
2005
- Judy Garland Duets as Self (archive footage)
2004
- Improvisation as Self
- The Harlem Renaissance as Self (archive footage)
2003
- Piano Blues as Self (archive footage)
2001
- New York in the Fifties as Self
1993
- Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music as Self (archive footage)
1981
- Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music as Self
- Count Basie At Carnegie Hall as Self
1980
- The Big Show as Self
1979
- The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story as Self
- Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match" as Sself (Piano, Conductor)
1978
- The Kennedy Center Honors as Self
1974
- Blazing Saddles as Self
1966
- ABC Stage 67 as Self
1965
- Frank Sinatra Spectacular as Self
1964
- The Hollywood Palace as Self - Pianist
1963
- The Judy Garland Show as Self
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show as Self
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self
1960
- Cinderfella as Count Basie
1957
- Jamboree! as Count Basie
1956
- The Steve Allen Show as Self - Conductor
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show as Self
1955
- Rhythm and Blues Revue as Self
1948
- The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- Killer Diller ... (Original Music Composer)
1943
- Crazy House as Count Basie
- Stage Door Canteen as Count Basie
- Top Man as Orchestra Leader
1941
- Air Mail Special as Self
- Take Me Back, Baby
1938
- Policy Man as Count Basie