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Count Basie Birthday and Date of Death Count Basie was born on August 21, 1904 and died on April 26, 1984. Instrument (s) Drums. He began working as an arranger for Count Basie in 1967, and wrote and arranged all the music for Basie's 1968 LP Basie Straight Ahead. He worked as an orchestrator and arranger for the film The Color Purple. Whereas other pianists were noted for technical flash and dazzling dexterity, Basie was known for his use of silence and for reducing his solo passages to the minimum amount of notes required for maximum emotional and rhythmic effect. Failed to delete memorial. Discover what happened on this day. For a year he played piano accompaniment to silent movies and then joined Walter Page's Blue Devils in Tulsa, Okla., a band that included, in addition to Mr. Page, Mr. Basie and Mr. Rushing all joined Bennie Moten's orchestra, the leading big band in the Southwest, which became even stronger with their presence. Death rate by cause. One day he asked me whether I played the organ. He directed music programs at Los Angeles Pierce College, Woodland Hills, California, Westinghouse Memorial High School, and Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. 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 of the band. He was represented at the ceremony by his children Lester Young Jr and Yvette Young.[36]. [4][17], Nestico also had a career in music education, teaching at the University of Georgia from 1998 to 1999, where he taught orchestration and conducted the studio orchestra; after which he retired to Carlsbad, California, near San Diego. As orchestrator, he worked on nearly seventy television programs, including Mission: Impossible,[11] Mannix, M*A*S*H,[13] Charlie's Angels,[14] and The Mod Squad. [1] He worked as a drummer and tap-dancer at carnival shows until joining Walter Page's band, the Blue Devils in Oklahoma City in the late 1920s. Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] Jones moved to Alabama, where he learned to play several instruments, including saxophone, piano, and drums. Count Basie was born in Red Bank. After Young's clarinet was stolen in 1939, he abandoned the instrument until about 1957. Basies autobiography, Good Morning Blues, written with Albert Murray, was published posthumously in 1985. Best Known For: One of jazz music's all-time greats, bandleader-pianist Count Basie was a primary shaper of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. He also received a distinguished alumni award from Duquesne, and in 1994 was inducted into Duquesne's "Century Club". Updates? Allmusic's Scott Yanow, reviewing one of the albums, Pres and Teddy, commented: Although it has been written much too often that Lester Young declined rapidly from the mid-'40s on, the truth is that when he was healthy, Young played at his very best during the '50s, adding an emotional intensity to his sound that had not been present during the more carefree days of the '30s. When is Count Basies birthday? Count Basie was born in the Year of the Dragon. While he was in his late teens, he gravitated to Harlem, where he encountered Fats Waller. GREAT NEWS! cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Count Basie AKA William Allen Basie Born: 21-Aug - 1904 Birthplace: Red Bank, NJ Died: 26-Apr - 1984 Location of death: Hollywood, FL Cause of death: Cancer - Pancreatic Remains: Buried, Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, NY Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: Black Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Pianist, Jazz Musician On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Count Basie Theatre in Redbank, New Jersey. Nestico continued to provide arrangements for Basie until Basie's death in 1984, and four of Nestico's collaborations with Basie earned Grammy . He earned the nickname, "Count," because of his stylish way of playing the piano. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Basie benefited greatly from his association with Granz and made several recordings during the 70s that rank among his best work. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. At age 17, Nestico joined the ABC radio station WCAE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a trombonist. The strengths of this sign are being creative, passionate, generous, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous, while weaknesses can be arrogant, stubborn, self-centered, lazy and inflexible. Year should not be greater than current year. The pianist in the combo gave up his seat to Mr. Basie who sat down, tinkled a few 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 a few moments before. The impact Basie had can be seen across the country. I wanted those three trumpets and two trombones to bite with real guts. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Count Basie (1664)? "[25], Young made his final studio recordings and live performances in Paris in March 1959 with drummer Kenny Clarke at the tail end of an abbreviated European tour during which he ate next to nothing and drank heavily. His autobiography, The Gift of Music, was published in 2009. With Count Basie Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Due to changing fortunes and an altered musical landscape, Basie was forced to scale down the size of his orchestra at the start of the 1950s, but he soon made a comeback and returned to his big-band structure in 1952, recording new hits with vocalist Joe Williams and becoming an international figure. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. When Bennie Moten died in 1935, the band disintegrated and Mr. Basie organized a small band to play at the Reno Club in Kansas City that became the nucleus of the band with which he gained his initial fame. In fact, the only reason I enlarged the brass was to get a richer harmonic structure. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Recorded on a home recorder. His father was a teacher and band leader. First commercially issued collection of Young as band leader. Causes of deaths for people who were 70 years and older. He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. These performances were generally well attended by other drummers such as Max Roach and Roy Haynes. Courtesy of the artist. Singer Joe Williams, whose authoritative, blues-influenced vocals can be heard on hit recordings such as Every Day I Have the Blues and Alright, Okay, You Win, was also a major component in the bands success. During his last years, he had difficulty walking and rode out on the stage on a motorized wheelchair which he sometimes drove with joyful abandon. Jazz Musician. Early "in person" recordings. Unlike many white musicians, who were placed in band outfits such as the ones led by Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw, Young was assigned to the regular army where he was not allowed to play his saxophone. [14] Based in Ft. McClellan, Alabama, Young was found with marijuana and alcohol among his possessions. Paul Quinichette modeled his style so closely on Young's that he was sometimes referred to as the "Vice Prez" (sic). His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. (William) Count Basie (1904-1984) was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a century. Played for Kennedy and Reagan. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. A band leader and pioneer in jazz percussion, Jones anchored the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section from 1934 to 1948. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Weve updated the security on the site. Another milestone came with the 1956 album April in Paris, whose title track contained psyche-you-out endings that became a new band signature. Outstanding soloists such as tenor saxophonists Lucky Thompson, Paul Quinichette, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis and trumpeters Clark Terry and Charlie Shavers, figured prominently. They had two children: Lester W. Young Jr. (born 1947) and Yvette Young (born 1957). [12], In the late 1960s, Sammy worked as an arranger and orchestrator for Capitol Records. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. This second-generation big band differed from the early one in that it depended on arrangers for its basic style, a smooth, rolling, highly polished swing style for which Neal Hefti (''Li'l Darlin' ''), Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster (''Shiny Stockings'') were among the most notable orchestrators. Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. Basie began his career as a stride pianist, reflecting the influence of Johnson and Waller, but the style most associated with him was characterized by spareness and precision. Fletcher Henderson's band was playing at the Grand Terrace just before the Basie band arrived there. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The work was subsequently adapted for the theater, and was staged in November of that year at the Manhattan Theater Club, New York City, with a four-piece jazz combo led by Dwight Andrews.[33]. Is that all right with you?' Jones died of pneumonia in New York City at the age of 73. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Meanwhile, keep on listening and tapping your feet. (Count Basie), Well, if you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night! (Count Basie), Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. In December 1943, Young returned to the Basie fold for a 10-month stint, cut short by his being drafted into the army during World War II. During 1950 and 51, economy forced Basie to front an octet, the only period in his career in which he did not lead a big band. William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. One of jazz music's all-time greats, bandleader-pianist Count Basie was a primary shaper of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music. His father Harvey was a mellophonist and his mother Lillian was a pianist who gave her son his first lessons. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. ''And that's when the whole fire started,'' said Mr. Alexander. Your IP: I said the minute the brass got out of hand and blared and screeched instead of making every note mean something, there'd be some changes made. I thought he was kidding, shrugged my shoulders and repled, 'O.K.' Try again later. Birthday: August 21, 1904 Date of Death: April 26, 1984 Age at Death: 79 Live Live Death Statistics Worldwide and The United States Count Basie - Biography "[4][9], After leaving the military, Nestico became a freelance arranger. The greatest overall compatibility with Leo is Aquarius, Gemini. Young played clarinet as well as tenor in these sessions. You can always change this later in your Account settings. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Basie suffered from health issues in his later years, and died from cancer in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. He conducted and recorded his arrangements with several leading European Radio Jazz Orchestras, including the BBC Big Band in London, Germany's SWR Big Band and NDR Big Band and the DR Big Band, as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra in America. He made a habit of leaving, working, then going home. He thought he could never outmatch Greers talent, so he took up piano at 15. Count Basie Birth Name: William James Basie Occupation: Pianist Place Of Birth: Red Bank Date Of Birth: August21, 1904 Date Of Death: April 26, 1984 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Black Nationality: American Count Basie was born on the 21st of August, 1904. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Cholera deaths in Great Britain over the long-term. As a result, the band got a date at the Grand Terrace in Chicago. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Try again. Verify and try again. He recorded with trumpeter Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders in 1931, and later joined pianist Count Basie's band in 1934. 24 part "Interview with Lester Young", conducted in the 1950s. 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 O'Clock Jump" and "Blue Skies." . You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. In the early 1990s after Count Basie's death, leader Frank Foster was auditioning a young drummer for the Basie Band. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. when asking how much a gig was going to pay.[31]. He eventually relocated the Cherry Blossoms to Chicago, then to New York City. He had three sons with his first wife. From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging onto every note, sitting behind him all the time. But the obvious talents of another young Red Bank drummer, Sonny Greer, who was Duke Ellington's drummer from 1919 to 1951, discouraged young Basie and he switched to piano. based on information from your browser. The Basie orchestra had several hit recordings during the late 1930s and early 40s, among them Jumpin at the Woodside, Every Tub, Lester Leaps In, Super Chief, Taxi War Dance, Miss Thing, Shorty George, and One OClock Jump, the bands biggest hit and theme song. Whos the richest Pianist in the world? The band broadcast from the Reno Club on an experimental radio station. It is also known as being the most generous and noble of signs. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Basie decided to form a medium-sized band in 1950, juggling combinations of all-star . Discography. Count Basie was a Leo and was born in the G.I. The jazz pianist George Shearing said that Mr. Basie's greatest trademark was the three sweet, soft notes that ended many of his great swing-era compositions. Billie and Lester met at a Harlem jam session in the early 30s and worked together in the Count Basie band and in nightclubs on New York's 52nd St. At one point Lester moved into the apartment Billie shared with her mother, Sadie Fagan. [16] Nestico composed commercial jingles for Anheuser-Busch, Zenith, Ford Motor Company, Mattel Toys, Pittsburgh Paint, the National Guard, Dodge, Remington Bank, and Americard. Jazz Musician. The 1994 documentary about the 1958 Esquire "A Great Day in Harlem" photograph of jazz musicians in New York, contains many remembrances of Young. His autobiography (as told to Albert Murray), entitled Rifftide: The Life and Opinions of Papa Jo Jones and based on conversations between Jones and novelist Murray from 1977 to before Jones' death in 1985, was posthumously published in 2011 by the University of Minnesota Press.[2]. His group, Count Basie and his Cherry Blossoms, was an outgrowth of Bennie Motens band in Kansas City. Here is all you want to know, and more! This page is updated often with latest details about Count Basie. Despite a brief disbandment at the beginning of the 1950s, the band survived long past the Big Band era itself and the death of Basie in 1984. They hate hypocrisy and gossip and can sometimes be a bit arrogant and impatient. Gradually, member by member, the Count Basie Orchestra was born, and . [1] The two died only a few days apart. Try again later. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He sold newspapers and shined shoes. George Wein, producer of the festival, announced yesterday that this year's festival would be dedicated to Mr. Basie and that the June 30 program would be enlarged as a ''Salute to Count Basie.''. Sources:[22][23]. The early Basie band was also noted for its legendary soloists and outstanding rhythm section. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b3f35bc02472d He subsequently led a number of small groups that often included his brother, drummer Lee Young, for the next couple of years; live and broadcast recordings from this period exist. To use this feature, use a newer browser. To help it through the Grand Terrace engagement, Fletcher Henderson, who had provided Benny Goodman with the arrangements that enabled his band to break through a year earlier, lent Mr. Basie some of his arrangements. He wrote many books, including The Complete Arranger, which was first published in 1993 and has since been revised and published in at least four languages. Basie then formed the Barons of Rhythm with some of his bandmates from Moten's group, including saxophonist Lester Young. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. That year Norman Granz gave him one and urged him to play it (with far different results at that stage in Young's lifesee below). Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.''. There will be a viewing at Benta's Funeral Home, 630 St. Nicholas Avenue at 141st Street, on Sunday from 1 to 7 P.M. In 1981 OyamO (Charles F. Gordon) published the book The Resurrection of Lady Lester, subtitled "A Poetic Mood Song Based on the Legend of Lester Young", depicting Young's life. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Count Basie was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a century. One night, while the band was broadcasting on a shortwave radio station in Kansas City, he was dubbed Count Basie by a radio announcer who wanted to indicate his standing in a class with aristocrats of jazz such as Duke Ellington. Straub was inspired by Young's appearance on the 1957 CBS-TV show The Sound of Jazz, which he watched repeatedly, wondering how such a genius could have ended up "this present shambles, this human wreckage, hardly able to play at all". This stemmed primarily from the presence in the rhythm section, from 1937 to the present, of both Mr. Basie on piano and Freddie Green on guitar. After earning his degree, Nestico then returned to the military, where he arranged music for the United States Air Force Band (19501963), as well as leading the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps dance band, which would later become known as the Airmen of Note. In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what one critic called "a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull, banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike". In contrast to the prevailing jazz drum style exemplified by Gene Krupa's loud, insistent pounding of the bass drum on each beat, Jones often omitted bass drum playing altogether. Mr. Alexander agreed to lend the club $2,500 to install an air-conditioner if it would book the Basie band. Directing With a Glance 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. During childhood, Sammy Americanized his name to Samuel Louis Nestico. Jones's style influenced the modern jazz drummer's tendency to play timekeeping rhythms on a cymbal, that is now known as the ride cymbal. and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role in the death of the big-band era. ). With vocals by Jimmy Rushing, the band set up shop to perform at Kansas City's Reno Club. His alma mater later awarded him with an honorary Doctor of Music degree and the Distinguished Alumni award. He's not limited to anything. He was 67. The family always owned a piano, and Lilly Ann paid twenty-five cents per lesson to . Chinese Zodiac: Count Basie was born in the Year of the Rabbit. He also starred in several films, most notably the musical short Jammin' the Blues (1944). [8] Young left the Basie band in late 1940. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. [12] The Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the USAF, sponsor an annual competition, the "Sammy Nestico Award" for composers and arrangers of big band music, named in his honor. Like many famous people and celebrities, Count Basie kept his personal life private. At the time of his death, a feature-length documentary film titled Shadow Man: The Sammy Nestico Story was in production. There was a memorable concert at Town Hall several years ago when a number of musicians, including Mr. Basie, were scheduled to perform in a variety of combinations. His first marriage was to Beatrice Tolliver, in Albuquerque, on 23 February 1930. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The resulting song then became both an elegy to Young, and, implicitly, Mingus as well. Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary Teach World 1.12K. For many of the other participants, the photo shoot was the last time they saw him alive; he was the first musician in the famous photo to pass away. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Add to your scrapbook. Young was the subject and inspiration of Prez. '', 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 (Lockjaw) Davis, Frank Wess, Jimmy Forrest and the blues singer Joe Williams. Although they were recorded in New York (in 1938, with a reunion in 1944), they are named after the group, the Kansas City Seven, and comprised Buck Clayton, Dicky Wells, Basie, Young, Freddie Green, Rodney Richardson, and Jo Jones. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). His second great band, from the 1950s onwards, relied more on arrangements, typically from Neil Hefti and Ernie Wilkin's. As a pianist Basie. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. [12], Nestico married his second wife, Shirley, in 1995, and was married to her until his death. Then I sat beside him and he taught me.''