Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography _ AllMusic
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 μμ] Count Basie JUMP TO DISCOGRAPHY GENRES STYLES ACTIVE BORN DIED ALIASES Jazz Big Band Swing Piano Blues Band Music 1920s - 1980s August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, NJ April 26, 1984 in Hollywood, FL William "Count" Basie William Allen Basie William Basie + Artist Metadata IDs Submit corrections OVERVIEW SONGS CREDITS AWARDS RELATED VIDEOS LISTEN biography by William Ruhlmann Share Page photo gallery [-] Count Basie was among the most important bandleaders of the swing era. With the exception of a brief period in the early '50s, he led a big band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later, and the band continued to perform after he died. Basie's orchestra was characterized by a light, swinging rhythm section that he led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing. Basie was not a composer like Duke Ellington or an important soloist like Benny Goodman. His instrument was his band, which was considered the epitome of swing and became broadly influential on jazz. Both of Basie's parents were musicians; his father, Harvie Basie, played the mellophone, and his mother, Lillian (Childs) Basie, was a pianist who gave her son his earliest lessons. Basie also learned from Harlem stride pianists, particularly Fats Waller . His first professional work came accompanying vaudeville performers, and he was part of a troupe that broke up in Kansas City in 1927, leaving him stranded there. He stayed in the Midwestern city, at first working in a silent movie house and then joining Walter Page's Blue Devils in July 1928. The band's vocalist was Jimmy Rushing. Basie left in early 1929 to play with other bands, eventually settling into one led by Bennie Moten. Upon Moten's untimely death on April 2, 1935, Basie worked as a soloist before leading a band initially called the Barons of Rhythm. Many former members of the Moten band joined this nine-piece outfit, among them Walter Page (bass), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums), and Lester Young (tenor saxophone). Jimmy Rushing became the singer. The band gained a residency at the Reno Club in Kansas City and began broadcasting on the radio, an announcer dubbing the pianist "Count" Basie. Basie got his big break when one of his broadcasts was heard by journalist and record producer John Hammond, who touted him to agents and record companies. As a result, the band was able to leave Kansas City in the fall of 1936 and take up an engagement at the Grand Terrace in Chicago, followed by a date in Buffalo, NY, before coming into Roseland in New York City in December. It made its recording debut on Decca Records in January 1937. Undergoing expansion and personnel changes, it returned to Chicago, then to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston. Meanwhile, its recording of "One O'Clock Jump" became its first chart entry in September 1937. The tune became the band's theme song and it was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Basie returned to New York for an extended engagement at the small club the Famous Door in 1938 that really established the band as a success. "Stop Beatin' Round the Mulberry Bush," with Rushing on vocals, became a Top Ten hit in the fall of 1938. Basie spent the first half of 1939 in Chicago, meanwhile switching from Decca to Columbia Records, then went to the West Coast in the fall. He spent the early '40s touring extensively, but after the U.S. entry into World War II in December 1941 and the onset of the recording ban in August 1942, his travel was restricted. While on the West Coast, he and the band appeared in five films, all released within a matter of months in 1943: Hit Parade of 1943, Reveille with Beverly, Stage Door Canteen, Top Man, and Crazy House. He also scored a series of Top Ten hits on the pop and R&B charts, including "I Didn't Know About You" (pop, winter 1945); "Red Bank Blues" (R&B, winter 1945); "Rusty Dusty Blues" (R&B, spring 1945); "Jimmy's Blues" (pop and R&B, summer/fall 1945); and "Blue Skies" (pop, summer 1946). Switching to RCA Victor Records, he topped the charts in February 1947 with "Open the Door, Richard!," followed by three more Top Ten pop hits in 1947: "Free Eats," "One O'Clock Boogie," and "I Ain't Mad at You (You Ain't Mad at Me)." The big bands' decline in popularity in the late '40s hit Basie as it did his peers, and he broke up his orchestra at the end of the decade, opting to lead smaller units for the next couple of years. But he was able to reform the big band in 1952, responding to increased opportunities for touring. For example, he went overseas for the first time to play in Scandinavia in 1954, and thereafter international touring played a large part in his schedule. An important addition to the band in late 1954 was vocalist Joe Williams. The orchestra was re- explore new releases recommendations blog Sign Up Log in
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Transcript of Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography _ AllMusic
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
Count Basie JUMP TO DISCOGRAPHY
GENRES
STYLES
ACTIVE
BORN
DIED
ALIASES
Jazz
Big Band
Swing
Piano Blues
Band Music
1920s - 1980s
August 21, 1904 in Red Bank,
NJ
April 26, 1984 in Hollywood,
FL
William "Count" Basie
William Allen Basie
William Basie
+ Artist Metadata IDs
Submit corrections
OVERVIEW SONGS CREDITS AWARDS RELATED VIDEOS LISTEN
biography by William Ruhlmann
Share Page
photo gallery
[-]
Count Basie was among the most important bandleaders of the swing era. With the exception of a briefperiod in the early '50s, he led a big band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later, and the bandcontinued to perform after he died. Basie's orchestra was characterized by a light, swinging rhythmsection that he led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing. Basie was not acomposer like Duke Ellington or an important soloist like Benny Goodman. His instrument was hisband, which was considered the epitome of swing and became broadly influential on jazz.
Both of Basie's parents were musicians; his father, Harvie Basie, played the mellophone, and hismother, Lillian (Childs) Basie, was a pianist who gave her son his earliest lessons. Basie also learnedfrom Harlem stride pianists, particularly Fats Waller. His first professional work came accompanyingvaudeville performers, and he was part of a troupe that broke up in Kansas City in 1927, leaving himstranded there. He stayed in the Midwestern city, at first working in a silent movie house and thenjoining Walter Page's Blue Devils in July 1928. The band's vocalist was Jimmy Rushing. Basie left inearly 1929 to play with other bands, eventually settling into one led by Bennie Moten. Upon Moten'suntimely death on April 2, 1935, Basie worked as a soloist before leading a band initially called theBarons of Rhythm. Many former members of the Moten band joined this nine-piece outfit, among themWalter Page (bass), Freddie Green (guitar), Jo Jones (drums), and Lester Young (tenor saxophone).Jimmy Rushing became the singer. The band gained a residency at the Reno Club in Kansas City andbegan broadcasting on the radio, an announcer dubbing the pianist "Count" Basie.
Basie got his big break when one of his broadcasts was heard by journalist and record producer JohnHammond, who touted him to agents and record companies. As a result, the band was able to leaveKansas City in the fall of 1936 and take up an engagement at the Grand Terrace in Chicago, followed bya date in Buffalo, NY, before coming into Roseland in New York City in December. It made itsrecording debut on Decca Records in January 1937. Undergoing expansion and personnel changes, itreturned to Chicago, then to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston. Meanwhile, its recording of "OneO'Clock Jump" became its first chart entry in September 1937. The tune became the band's theme songand it was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Basie returned to New York for an extended engagement at the small club the Famous Door in 1938that really established the band as a success. "Stop Beatin' Round the Mulberry Bush," with Rushing onvocals, became a Top Ten hit in the fall of 1938. Basie spent the first half of 1939 in Chicago,meanwhile switching from Decca to Columbia Records, then went to the West Coast in the fall. Hespent the early '40s touring extensively, but after the U.S. entry into World War II in December 1941and the onset of the recording ban in August 1942, his travel was restricted. While on the West Coast,he and the band appeared in five films, all released within a matter of months in 1943: Hit Parade of1943, Reveille with Beverly, Stage Door Canteen, Top Man, and Crazy House. He also scored a series ofTop Ten hits on the pop and R&B charts, including "I Didn't Know About You" (pop, winter 1945);"Red Bank Blues" (R&B, winter 1945); "Rusty Dusty Blues" (R&B, spring 1945); "Jimmy's Blues" (popand R&B, summer/fall 1945); and "Blue Skies" (pop, summer 1946). Switching to RCA Victor Records,he topped the charts in February 1947 with "Open the Door, Richard!," followed by three more Top Tenpop hits in 1947: "Free Eats," "One O'Clock Boogie," and "I Ain't Mad at You (You Ain't Mad at Me)."
The big bands' decline in popularity in the late '40s hit Basie as it didhis peers, and he broke up his orchestra at the end of the decade,opting to lead smaller units for the next couple of years. But he wasable to reform the big band in 1952, responding to increasedopportunities for touring. For example, he went overseas for the firsttime to play in Scandinavia in 1954, and thereafter internationaltouring played a large part in his schedule. An important addition tothe band in late 1954 was vocalist Joe Williams. The orchestra was re-
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
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artist moods
artist themes
Bright CarefreeElegant EnergeticHappy LivelySophisticated StylishAmiable/Good-Natured
CelebratoryCheerful
Freewheeling JoyousLight RefinedSwaggering BoisterousExuberant FunRousing PlayfulRollicking ConfidentPassionate Sentimental
Freedom ReunionIn Love AffirmationCelebration Day DrivingDinner Ambiance Family GatheringsHomecoming HouseworkNight Driving Rainy DayReflection Road TripSolitude Sunday AfternoonSweet Dreams TGIFVacation
Affection/FondnessAnniversary PlayfulRelaxation ReminiscingThe Creative Side
- -- -- -- -- -
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established commercially by the 1955 album Count Basie Swings - JoeWilliams Sings (released on Clef Records), particularly by the single"Every Day (I Have the Blues)," which reached the Top Five of the R&B charts and was later inductedinto the Grammy Hall of Fame. Another key recording of this period was an instrumental reading of"April in Paris" that made the pop Top 40 and the R&B Top Ten in early 1956; it also was enshrined inthe Grammy Hall of Fame. These hits made what Albert Murray (co-author of Basie's autobiography,Good Morning Blues) called the "new testament" edition of the Basie band a major success. Williamsremained with Basie until 1960, and even after his departure, the band continued to prosper.
At the first Grammy Awards ceremony, Basie won the 1958 awards forBest Performance by a Dance Band and Best Jazz Performance,Group, for his Roulette Records LP Basie. Breakfast Dance andBarbecue was nominated in the dance band category for 1959, andBasie won in the category in 1960 for Dance with Basie, earningnominations the same year for Best Performance by an Orchestra andBest Jazz Performance, Large Group, for The Count Basie Story. Therewere further nominations for best jazz performance for Basie atBirdland in 1961 and The Legend in 1962. None of these albumsattracted much commercial attention, however, and in 1962, Basie
switched to Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records in a bid to sell more records. Sinatra-Basie satisfied thatdesire, reaching the Top Five in early 1963. It was followed by This Time by Basie! Hits of the 50's and60's, which reached the Top 20 and won the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Performance by anOrchestra for Dancing.
This initiated a period largely deplored by jazz fans that ran throughthe rest of the 1960s, when Basie teamed with various vocalists for aseries of chart albums including Ella Fitzgerald (Ella and Basie!,1963); Sinatra again (the Top 20 album It Might as Well Be Swing,1964); Sammy Davis, Jr. (Our Shining Hour, 1965); the Mills Brothers(The Board of Directors, 1968); and Jackie Wilson (Manufacturers ofSoul, 1968). He also reached the charts with an album of show tunes,Broadway Basie's ... Way (1966).
By the end of the 1960s, Basie hadreturned to more of a jazz format.His album Standing Ovation earned a 1969 Grammy nomination forBest Instrumental Jazz Performance by a Large Group or Soloist withLarge Group (Eight or More), and in 1970, with Oliver Nelson asarranger/conductor, he recorded Afrique, an experimental, avant-garde album that earned a 1971 Grammy nomination for Best JazzPerformance by a Big Band. By this time, the band performed largelyon the jazz festival circuit and on cruise ships. In the early 1970s, aftera series of short-term affiliations, Basie signed to Pablo Records, with
which he recorded for the rest of his life. Pablo recorded Basie prolifically in a variety of settings,resulting in a series of well-received albums: Basie Jam earned a 1975 Grammy nomination for BestJazz Performance by a Group; Basie and Zoot was nominated in the same category in 1976 and wonthe Grammy for Best Jazz Performance by a Soloist; Prime Time won the 1977 Grammy for Best JazzPerformance by a Big Band; and The Gifted Ones by Basie and Dizzy Gillespie was nominated for a1979 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Group. Thereafter, Basie competed in thecategory of Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by a Big Band, winning the Grammy in 1980 for Onthe Road and in 1982 for Warm Breeze, earning a nomination for Farmer's Market Barbecue in 1983,and winning a final time, for his ninth career Grammy, in 1984 for 88 Basie Street.
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
discography MAIN ALBUMS COMPILATIONS SINGLES & EPS DVDS & VIDEOS
Year Title Label Editors' Rating Average User Rating
1950 Dance Parade Columbia No User Ratings
1950Count Basie at thePiano Decca No User Ratings
1952Count Basie/LesterYoung - Live at Birdland No User Ratings
1952Count Basie and HisOrchestra Collates Mercury No User Ratings
1953 King of Swing Verve(1)
1954 Basie Jazz Clef Records No User Ratings
1954 Basie [Clef] No User Ratings
1954 Blues Backstage Clef Records No User Ratings
1954 Count Basie Big Band Clef Records No User Ratings
1954Count Basie DanceSession, Vol. 1 Universal Distribution No User Ratings
1954 Dance Session Universal Distribution No User Ratings
1954 The Count Basie Sextet Clef Records No User Ratings
1955 Jazz Royalty Emarcy No User Ratings
1955The Old Count and theNew Count Epic No User Ratings
list condensed
Basie's health gradually deteriorated during the last eight years of his life. He suffered a heart attack in1976 that put him out of commission for several months. He was back in the hospital in 1981, andwhen he returned to action, he was driving an electric wheel chair onto the stage. He died of cancer at79.
Count Basie was admired as much by musicians as by listeners, and he displayed a remarkableconsistency in a bandleading career that lasted long after swing became an archival style of music. Afterhis death, his was one of the livelier ghost bands, led in turn by Thad Jones, Frank Foster, and GroverMitchell. His lengthy career resulted in a large discography spread across all of the major labels andquite a few minor ones as well.
COLLAPSE
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
1955 Lester Leaps In Epic No User Ratings
1955 Basie's Back in Town Epic No User Ratings
1955 Let's Go to Prez Epic No User Ratings
1955Count Basie DanceSession, Vol. 2 Universal Distribution No User Ratings
1955 Rock the Blues Epic No User Ratings
1956 Sings Standards Verve No User Ratings
1956Count Basie in London
Verve(1)
1956 Live in Basel (1956) Jazz Helvet No User Ratings
1956 April in Paris Phoenix Jazz / PhoenixRecords (11)
1956 Basie Bash Columbia No User Ratings
1956 Basie Rides Again Clef Records No User Ratings
1956 Basie Roars Again! Clef Records No User Ratings
1956Count Basie Swings,Joe Williams Sings Verve / PolyGram /
Universal (6)
1956 Switzerland 1956 Jazz Helvet No User Ratings
1956 The Band Of Distinction Clef Records No User Ratings
1956 The Swinging Count Universal Distribution No User Ratings
1957At Newport with DizzyGillespie Verve No User Ratings
1957Count Basie at Newport
Verve(5)
1957One O'Clock Jump Verve / PolyGram /
Universal Classics & Jazz No User Ratings
1957The Atomic Mr. Basie
Jazz Track(8)
1958 Memories Ad-Lib No User Ratings
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
1958Basie Swings, BennettSings
Roulette Records No User Ratings
1958 Basie Plays Hefti No User Ratings
1958Sing Along with Basie
Roulette Records(1)
1958The Atomic Band inConcert Band Stand - (import) No User Ratings
1959Chairman of the Board
Roulette Records(4)
1959Breakfast Dance andBarbecue
Blue Note No User Ratings
1959Everyday I Have theBlues No User Ratings
1959 Hall of Fame Fresh Sound Records No User Ratings
1959 Dance with Basie Roulette Records No User Ratings
1959Basie and Eckstine, Inc.
Roulette Records / Capitol No User Ratings
1959Bennett & Basie StrikeUp the Band
Roulette Records No User Ratings
1959 Live Sequel No User Ratings
1959 One More Time Roulette Records(1)
1960Not Now - I'll Tell YouWhen
Roulette Records No User Ratings
1960 Just the Blues Roulette Records No User Ratings
1960 Easin' It Roulette Records No User Ratings
1960Dizzy Gillespie andCount Basie at Newport Verve No User Ratings
1960 String Along with Basie Roulette Records No User Ratings
1960The Best of Basie, Vol.1
Charly Budget / CharlyRecords No User Ratings
1960The Best of Basie, Vol.2
Roulette Records No User Ratings
1961First Time! The CountMeets the Duke
Columbia(12)
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
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1961 Basie at Birdland Roulette Records / BlueNote (1)
1962Count Basie and theKansas City 7
Impulse! / Universal Japan(9)
1962 Back with Basie Roulette Records No User Ratings
1962 Basie: Vaughan Roulette Records No User Ratings
1962Count Basie & SarahVaughan
Roulette Records No User Ratings
1962 Count Basie in Sweden Roulette Records No User Ratings
1962 Live in Concert Monad No User Ratings
1962 Live in Sweden Roulette Records No User Ratings
1962Paris Jazz Concert
RTE No User Ratings
1962Sinatra-Basie: AnHistoric Musical First Reprise
(7)
1963On My Way & Shoutin'Again
Verve(3)
1963 Basie Land Verve(1)
1963Li L OlGroovemaker...Basie! Verve
(1)
1964 Pop Goes the Basie No User Ratings
1964It Might as Well BeSwing
Reprise(6)
1964The World of CountBasie Roulette Records No User Ratings
1965 Basie Picks the Winners Universal Distribution No User Ratings
1965Frankly Basie: CountBasie Plays the Hits ofFrank Sinatra
Verve No User Ratings
1966Count Basie with ArthurPrysock Verve No User Ratings
1966 Inside Basie Outside No User Ratings
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
1966Great Concert of CountBasie and His Orchestra Festival Records No User Ratings
1966Basie's Beatle Bag Verve / PolyGram /
Universal No User Ratings
1966Basie Meets Bond
Roulette Records(1)
1966Basie's Swingin', VoicesSingin' No User Ratings
1967The Board of Directors
DOT Records No User Ratings
1967 Straight Ahead GRP / Verve No User Ratings
1967 Basie's Beat Universal Distribution No User Ratings
1967 Hollywood...Basie's Way Command No User Ratings
1967 Showtime MCA No User Ratings
1968Live in Antibes (1968)
France's Concert No User Ratings
1968 Basie's in the Bag Brunswick No User Ratings
1969Jazz Fest Masters:Count Basie
Scotti Brothers No User Ratings
1969 Basic Basie Verve No User Ratings
1969 Standing Ovation DOT Records No User Ratings
1970 Basie on the Beatles Ocium Records (Spain) No User Ratings
1970 High Voltage Polygram No User Ratings
1971 Afrique BMG International(1)
1971 Have a Nice Day No User Ratings
1972Pleyel: 17 Avril 1972, Pt.1 Trema No User Ratings
1973 Basie Jam Pablo(2)
1973 The Bosses Original Jazz Classics(2)
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
1974 Satch and Josh JVC XRCD / JVC/XRCD(4)
1975 Basie & Zoot Original Jazz Classics(1)
1975Fun Time: Count BasieBig Band at Montreux'75
Pablo No User Ratings
1975For the Second Time
Original Jazz Classics(1)
1975
Count Basie JamSession at the MontreuxJazz Festival 1975 Pablo No User Ratings
1975The Basie Big Band
JVC XRCD / JVC/XRCD No User Ratings
1977 Kansas City 5 Original Jazz Classics(2)
1977 The Gifted Ones Original Jazz Classics(3)
1977 Montreux '77 Original Jazz Classics No User Ratings
1977Satch and Josh.....Again
Pablo No User Ratings
1977 Basie in Europe LRC Records No User Ratings
1978Milt Jackson & CountBasie & the Big Band,Vol. 1
Pablo(1)
1978Yessir, That's My Baby
Pablo No User Ratings
1978 Live in Japan '78 Pablo Records / Pablo No User Ratings
1978Big Bands, An OldManuscript BH Records No User Ratings
1978On Tour Down forDouble BH Records No User Ratings
1978Count Basie MeetsOscar Peterson Pablo No User Ratings
1978 Night Rider Original Jazz Classics(1)
1978 The Timekeepers Pablo(1)
1979Milt Jackson & CountBasie & the Big Band, Pablo
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Count Basie - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/count-basie-mn0000127044[27/2/2013 6:14:10 ]
Vol. 2 (1)
1979 On the Road Original Jazz Classics /Pablo/OJC No User Ratings
1979 Get Together Pablo Records / Pablo No User Ratings
1980Kansas City Shout
Pablo(2)
1980 Kansas City 7 Original Jazz Classics /Pablo (1)
1982Farmer's MarketBarbecue
Original Jazz Classics No User Ratings
1983Mostly Blues...AndSome Others
Pablo No User Ratings
1994 Big Band Basie Reference Recordings No User Ratings
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