About

Known credits:
37
Birthday:
1904-08-21
Place of birth:
Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Website:
Click here

Count Basie

Overview

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

Acting
2022 Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues Actor Self (voice) (archive sound) 59
Average
2022 Rat Pack Actor Self (archive footage) 58
Average
2022 Charlie Parker: Bird Songs Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2020 Billie Actor self 59
Average
2020 Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes Actor 59
Average
2019 Sid & Judy Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2014 Jazz Legends in Their Own Words Actor Self N/A
N/A
2011 All-Star Jazz Show: Live From The Ed Sullivan Theater Actor Self N/A
N/A
2007 Music Inn Actor Himself (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2006 Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62 Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2005 Judy Garland Duets Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2004 The Harlem Renaissance Actor Self (archive footage) 58
Average
2004 Improvisation Actor Self N/A
N/A
2003 Piano Blues Actor Self (archive footage) 58
Average
2001 New York in the Fifties Actor Self N/A
N/A
1999 The Rat Pack Actor Self N/A
N/A
1993 Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1981 Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music Actor Self N/A
N/A
1981 Count Basie At Carnegie Hall Actor Self 58
Average
1979 The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story Actor Self 58
Average
1979 Ella and Basie - The Perfect Match '79 Actor Sself (Piano, Conductor) 59
Average
1974 Blazing Saddles Actor Self 69
Fair
1965 Frank Sinatra Spectacular/Dismas House Concert-St. Louis Actor Self 59
Average
1960 Cinderfella Actor Count Basie 59
Average
1955 Rhythm and Blues Revue Actor Self 58
Average
1951 'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet Actor N/A
N/A
1950 Basie Boogie Actor N/A
N/A
1950 Cavalcade of Bands Actor N/A
N/A
1943 Crazy House Actor Count Basie 58
Average
1943 Top Man Actor Orchestra Leader N/A
N/A
1943 Stage Door Canteen Actor Count Basie 58
Average
1941 Air Mail Special Actor Self 59
Average
1941 Take Me Back, Baby Actor 59
Average
1938 Policy Man Actor Count Basie N/A
N/A
Ebony Parade Actor (archive footage) N/A
N/A

Sound
1948 Killer Diller Sound Original Music Composer 58
Average

Crew
2006 Sentimental Journey Crew In Memory Of N/A
N/A