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, and Crazy House. The Count Basie Orchestra had a slew of hits that helped to define the big-band sound of the 1930s and â40s. (This became known as the âNew Testament Bandâ, while the first Orchestra was the âOld Testament Band.â) They played command performances for kings, queens and presidents, and issued a large number of recordings both under Basieâs name and as the backing band for various singers, most notably Frank Sinatra. In 1950, financial restraints forced Basie to disband the orchestra. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. William "Count" Basie and his wife Catherine had a daughter, Diane, who lived in Freeport, Bahamas at the time of Basie's death in 1984. During a broadcast the announcer wanted to give Basieâs name some style, so he called him âCount.â Little did Basie know this touch of royalty would give him proper status and position him with the likes of Duke Ellington and Earl Hines.
It was here that he was introduced to the big-band sound when he joined Walter Pageâs Blue Devils in 1928. Basie heard Bennie Motenâs band, and longed to play with them. They had direct lines to presidents, occasionally exchanging personal telegrams giving well … Campaign contributions reveal big spenders support Hillary, This story has been shared 614,176 times. But in 2012, Manhattan Surrogate’s Court Justice Kristin Booth Glen removed Woodward from his guardian role after he failed to account for money that belonged to Diane.
Some of their notable chart toppers included Jumpinâ at the Woodside, April in Paris, and Basieâs own composition, One OâClock Jump, which became the orchestraâs signature piece. As a young boy, Basie hated to see his parents working so hard, and vowed to help them get ahead. Election results map: Live updates from across the US, Gambler bets $5 million in biggest-ever political wager, Dog walks 62 miles for 2 weeks to get back home, Playboy model with revealing top 'humiliated' on flight, Yes, you should plan on traveling to see family for Thanksgiving. He has had an unprecedented four recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame â One OâClock Jump (1979), April in Paris (1985), Everyday I Have the Blues (1992), and Lester 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. Terms of Use The Barons of Rhythm were regulars at the Reno Club and often performed for a live radio broadcast. Count and Mrs. Basie were true socialites â often gathering with friends including celebrities Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Basie protégé Quincy Jones.
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The band survived Basie's death, with trumpeter Thad Jones … See live results as polls close across the US. 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. Basie changed the jazz landscape and shaped mid-20th century popular music, duly earning the title âKing of Swingâ because he made the world want to dance. Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes, Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, Count Basie. Shortly after he got there, he got a gig replacing Fats Waller with a touring vaudeville act. They had one daughter. Basie now called Kansas City home. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The family had a piano, and Basieâs mother paid 25¢ a lesson for his piano lessons at an early age. This story has been shared 116,418 times. A year later, Basie joined Bennie_Motenâs band, and played with them until Motenâs death in 1935. Basie was a true innovator leading the band for almost 50 years and recording on over 480 albums. Thanks for contacting us. Kourtney Kardashian peddles COVID-19 mask conspiracy, Gayle King drops seven pounds on 5-day soup fast, Will.i.am likens Trump supporters to people in an abusive relationship, What Time Do Election Results Start Tonight? Famed record producer and journalist, John Hammond, heard the bandâs broadcast and began writing about the Orchestra to gain their attention. This story has been shared 614,176 times.
Around 1924 Basie moved to Harlem, a hotbed for jazz, where his career started to quickly take off. But Moten was an expert piano player himself, and Basie fashioned a job for himself as the bandâs staff arranger. This story has been shared 101,131 times. He was the arbiter of the big-band swing sound and his unique style of fusing blues and jazz established swing as a predominant music style. But this film digs deeper, uncovering the inner motivation and passions that drove Basie’s career as he became a unique link between jazz and America’s turbulent social history. We've received your submission. 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). 614,176, This story has been shared 116,418 times. He also scored a series of Top Ten hits on the pop and R&B charts, including I Didnât Know About You, Red Bank Blues, Rusty Dusty Blues, Jimmyâs Blues, and Blue Skies. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944.
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. He couldnât write music at the time, but his ear was perfect.