Count Basie
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Aug 21, 1904
- Died
- Apr 26, 1984 (aged 79)
- Place of birth
- Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
- Credits
- 48
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
Blazing Saddles
1974Movie
Count Basie
Cinderfella
1960Movie
Count Basie
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022Movie
Self (voice) (archive sound)
Billie
2020Movie
self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948TV
Self
Filmography
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022Movie
Self (voice) (archive sound)
Rat Pack
2022Movie
Self (archive footage)
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
2022Movie
Self (archive footage)
Billie
2020Movie
self
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
2020Movie
Sid & Judy
2019Movie
Self (archive footage)
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
2014Movie
Self (archive footage)
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
2011Movie
Self
Music Inn
2007Movie
Himself (archive footage)
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
2006Movie
Himself
Judy Garland Duets
2005Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Harlem Renaissance
2004Movie
Self (archive footage)
Improvisation
2004Movie
Self
Piano Blues
2003Movie
Self (archive footage)
New York in the Fifties
2001Movie
Self
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
1993Movie
Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
1981Movie
Self
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
1981Movie
Self
The Big Show
1980TV
Self
The Last of the Blue Devils
1979Movie
Self
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
1979Movie
Sself (Piano, Conductor)
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978TV
Self
Blazing Saddles
1974Movie
Count Basie
ABC Stage 67
1966TV
Self
Made in Paris
1966Movie
Count Basie
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
1965Movie
Self
The Hollywood Palace
1964TV
Self - Pianist
The Judy Garland Show
1963TV
Self
The Merv Griffin Show
1962TV
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self
Cinderfella
1960Movie
Count Basie
Astaire Time
1960Movie
Self
Startime
1959TV
Self
Jamboree!
1957Movie
Count Basie
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956TV
Self
The Steve Allen Show
1956TV
Self - Conductor, Self - Pianist, Self - Bandleader
Rhythm and Blues Revue
1955Movie
Self
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
1951Movie
Basie Boogie
1950Movie
Cavalcade of Bands
1950TV
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948TV
Self
Crazy House
1943Movie
Count Basie
Top Man
1943Movie
Orchestra Leader
Stage Door Canteen
1943Movie
Count Basie
Take Me Back, Baby
1941Movie
Policy Man
1938Movie
Count Basie
Ebony Parade
Movie
(archive footage)