Count Basie
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 21, 1904
- Died
- April 26, 1984 (aged 79)
- Birthplace
- Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
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.
Known For
Filmography
Ebony Parade
Movie · as (archive footage)
Rat Pack
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Movie · as Self (voice) (archive sound)
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
Movie
Billie
Movie · as self
Sid & Judy
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
Movie · as Self
Music Inn
Movie · as Himself (archive footage)
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
Movie · as Himself
Judy Garland Duets
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Harlem Renaissance
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Improvisation
Movie · as Self
Piano Blues
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
New York in the Fifties
Movie · as Self
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
Movie · as Self
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
Movie · as Self
The Big Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Last of the Blue Devils
Movie · as Self
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
Movie · as Sself (Piano, Conductor)
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Blazing Saddles
Movie · as Count Basie
Made in Paris
Movie · as Count Basie
ABC Stage 67
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Movie · as Self
The Hollywood Palace
TV · as Self - Pianist · 1 ep
The Judy Garland Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 4 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Cinderfella
Movie · as Count Basie
Astaire Time
Movie · as Self
Startime
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Jamboree!
Movie · as Count Basie
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Steve Allen Show
TV · as Self - Conductor, Self - Pianist, Self - Bandleader · 1 ep
Rhythm and Blues Revue
Movie · as Self
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
Movie
Basie Boogie
Movie
Cavalcade of Bands
TV · 9 eps
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV · as Self · 5 eps
Stage Door Canteen
Movie · as Count Basie
Crazy House
Movie · as Count Basie
Top Man
Movie · as Orchestra Leader
Take Me Back, Baby
Movie
Policy Man
Movie · as Count Basie