Jazz Stars in the Band. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. [11] " Police deemed it suicide, Kuehl having supposedly jumped from her hotel room, although there was no proof of this", [3] and her family believes she may have been murdered. [1] Jones took a brief break for two years when he was in the military, but he remained with Basie until 1948. Mausoleum, South Forsythia Court, Row 57, Tier D, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1664/count-basie. Anyone can read what you share. Though rooted in the riff style of the 1930s swing-era big bands, the Basie orchestra played with the forceful drive and carefree swing of a small combo. Instrument (s) Drums. Young also recorded extensively in the late 1940s for Aladdin Records (1945-1947, where he had made the Cole recordings in 1942) and for Savoy (1944, 1949 and 1950), some sessions of which included Basie on piano. [8], During World War II, Nestico joined the United States Army and served for five years. In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award. 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. The early Basie band was also noted for its legendary soloists and outstanding rhythm section. William James Basie is part of G.I. When the band left for Chicago it had only 12 written arrangements in its book. 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. As one critic put it, they ''put wheels on all four bars of the beat,'' creating a smooth rhythmic flow over which Mr. Basie's other instrumentalists rode as though they were on a streamlined cushion. [13] Playing on her name, he would call her "Lady Day." Learn more about merges. Basie suffered from health issues in his later years, and died from cancer in Hollywood, Florida, on April 26, 1984. Young is a major character in English writer Geoff Dyer's 1991 fictional book about jazz, But Beautiful. The Blue Devils was the first big band I ever had a chance to get close to and really listen to, and it was the greatest thing I had ever heard. Updates? Mr. Hammond spread the word about the Basie band, went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. In addition to his artistry on the drums, Jones was known for his irascible, combative temperament. Jones was the 1985 recipient of an American Jazz Masters fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. On December 8, 1957, Young appeared with Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, and Gerry Mulligan in the CBS television special The Sound of Jazz, performing Holiday's tune "Fine and Mellow." You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. As a result, the band got a date at the Grand Terrace in Chicago. Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. Paul Quinichette modeled his style so closely on Young's that he was sometimes referred to as the "Vice Prez" (sic). You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Recordings made during this and subsequent periods suggest Young was beginning to make much greater use of a plastic reed, which tended to give his playing a somewhat heavier, breathier tone (although still quite smooth compared to that of many other players). Please try again later. His playing showed reliance on a small number of clichd phrases and reduced creativity and originality, despite his claims that he did not want to be a "repeater pencil" (Young coined this phrase to describe the act of repeating one's own past ideas). Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Unostentatious as Mr. Basie appeared, his presence was a vital factor in directing his band or any group of musicians with whom he might be playing. 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. This is a carousel with slides. Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.''. Charles Mingus dedicated an elegy to Young, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", only a few months after his death. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. His father was a teacher and band leader. He was soon court-martialed. 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 left home permanently in 1932 when he became a member of the Blue Devils led by Walter Page. But it sure sounds good.. He married Catherine Morgan on August 21, 1942, with whom he had one child. Basies autobiography, Good Morning Blues, written with Albert Murray, was published posthumously in 1985. 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. Who are the richest people in the world? Holiday broke new ground with Shaw, becoming one of the first female . [11] He soon left Henderson to play in the Andy Kirk band (for six months) before returning to Basie. 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. Ronald McFadden, consummate entertainer, tap dancer and musician, died unexpectedly this week, shortly after a performance in downtown Kansas City. Red Bank, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. 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. He was one of the first drummers to promote the use of brushes on drums, and shifting the role of timekeeping from the bass drum to the hi-hat cymbal. Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary - YouTube 0:00 / 0:36 Butch Miles Cause of Death? 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. Oops, something didn't work. We have set your language to Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Count Basie, Birth Year: 1904, Birth date: August 21, 1904, Birth State: New Jersey, Birth City: Red Bank, Birth Country: United States. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. So he called the pianist "Count," with Basie not realizing just how much the name would catch on as a form of recognition and respect in the music world. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? In 1958, Count Basie became the first African-American male recipient of a Grammy Award. 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. Fletcher Henderson's band was playing at the Grand Terrace just before the Basie band arrived there. [8] He became a member of the Bostonians, led by Art Bronson, and chose tenor saxophone over alto as his primary instrument. Stranded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1927, Basie remained there and eventually (in 1935) assumed the leadership of a nine-piece band composed of former members of the Walter Page and Bennie Moten orchestras. He was a fine pianist and leader of one of the greatest jazz bands in history. 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]. Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch. The band will continue under the guidance of Aaron Woodward, an adopted son of Mr. Basie who has worked closely with the orchestra leader during the last year. This effort eventually resulted in the release of 63 albums by Time Life. Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday morning at Doctors' Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. ''I had dropped into the old Lincoln Theater in Harlem,'' Mr. Basie once recalled, ''and I heard a young fellow beating it out on an organ. Basie was born William James Basie (with some sources listing his middle name as "Allen") on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. Death rate from chronic respiratory diseases. He was known for being a Pianist. ''He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name and that there were a couple of well-known bandleaders named Earl Hines and Duke Ellington. During his career, Nestico composed, arranged, or conducted albums for musicians and singers including Quincy Jones, Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Toni Tennille, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. He was also honored by ASMAC and the Big Band Academy of America. [1], Samuel Luigi Nistico was born on February 6, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Luigi Nistico, an Italian immigrant, and Frances Mangone. Like many famous people and celebrities, Count Basie kept his personal life private. In 1937 Basie took his group, Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, to New York to record their first album with Decca Records under their new name, The Count Basie Orchestra. Lester married three times. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Count Basie (1664)? Young was the subject and inspiration of Prez. The top global causes of death, in order of total number of lives lost, are associated with three broad topics: cardiovascular (ischaemic heart disease, stroke), respiratory (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections) and neonatal conditions - which include birth asphyxia and birth trauma, neonatal sepsis and infections, and preterm birth complications. [12], In the late 1960s, Sammy worked as an arranger and orchestrator for Capitol Records. Verify and try again. [14] Based in Ft. McClellan, Alabama, Young was found with marijuana and alcohol among his possessions. His father Harvey was a mellophonist and his mother Lillian was a pianist who gave her son his first lessons. The family always owned a piano, and Lilly Ann paid twenty-five cents per lesson to . [4][9][10][11][12], Nestico had a long career in the film and television industry. In 1976, Mr. Basie suffered a heart attack. When we played pop tunes - and, naturally, we had to - I wanted those pops to kick! Live. It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. Learn more about managing a memorial . Once more details are available, we will update this section. Whos the richest Pianist in the world? Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One OClock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He left the world an almost unparalleled legacy of musical greatness, having recorded or been affiliated with dozens upon dozens of albums during his lifetime. I sat on the floor watching his feet and using my hands to imitate him. While he never abandoned the cane reed, he used the plastic reed a significant share of the time from 1943 until the end of his life. There is a problem with your email/password. On a flight to New York City, he suffered from internal bleeding due to the effects of alcoholism and died in the early morning hours of March 15, 1959, only hours after arriving back in New York, at the age of 49.[26]. Wayne Shorter, then of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, composed a tribute, called "Lester Left Town". To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Causes of deaths for people who were 70 years and older. Jones performed regularly in later years at the West End jazz club at 116th and Broadway in New York City. The story of Count Basie is very much the story of the great jazz band that he led for close to 50 years (1935-1984), an orchestra with a distinctive . He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. cemeteries found in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Count Bill Basie . Along with Duke Ellington, Count Basie is regarded as one of the two most important and influential bandleaders in the history of jazz. (Fans distinguish the two major eras in Basie bands as the Old Testament and New Testament.) The Basie orchestra of the 1950s was a slick, professional unit that was expert at sight reading and demanding arrangements. A few of his songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as well, including "April in Paris" and "Everyday I Have the Blues.". Astrological Sign: Leo. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. See the article in its original context from. Young is described as playing the clarinet in a "liquid, nervous style. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Don Byron recorded the album Ivey-Divey in gratitude for what he learned from studying Lester Young's work, modeled after a 1946 trio date with Buddy Rich and Nat King Cole. [3], Lester Young was born in Woodville, Mississippi, on August 27, 1909. Many of the members, like Lester "Prez" Young, drifted into Basie's orbit around the time of Moten's death in 1935. Weve updated the security on the site. He recorded less often with his big band during this era (although when he did, the results were outstanding), concentrating instead on small-group and piano-duet recordings. Basie played the vaudevillian circuit for a time until he got stuck in Kansas City, Missouri in the mid-1920s after his performance group disbanded. They were considered a model for ensemble rhythmic conception and tonal balancethis despite the fact that most of Basies sidemen in the 1930s were poor sight readers; mostly, the band relied on head arrangements (so called because the band had collectively composed and memorized them, rather than using sheet music). Duffy Jackson, a drummer whose swinging exuberance propelled him from child stardom to a prolific career behind Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and many others, died on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. This classic session finds the great tenor in particularly expressive form.[19]. He thought he could never outmatch Greers talent, so he took up piano at 15. Foster asked the drummer to come back for another audition in six months after the young man had listened to every recording he could find of Sonny Payne drumming with Count Basie. In 1981, Mr. Basie was honored along with Cary Grant, Helen Hayes and other stars as a recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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". The sound was almost frightening.''. Basie ultimately earned nine Grammy Awards over the course of his career, but he made history when he won his first, in 1958, as the first African American man to receive a Grammy. Resend Activation Email. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role in the death of the big-band era. He is rumored to have refused to play with the band on Friday, December 13 of that year for superstitious reasons, spurring his dismissal[11] although Young and drummer Jo Jones would later state that his departure had been in the works for months. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. Young's career after World War II was far more prolific and lucrative than in the pre-war years in terms of recordings made, live performances, and annual income. He would ask, "How does the bread smell?" Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. . Basie benefited greatly from his association with Granz and made several recordings during the 70s that rank among his best work. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] Jones moved to Alabama, where he learned to play several instruments, including saxophone, piano, and drums. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Especially noteworthy were the albums featuring the duo of Basie and Oscar Peterson, with Basies economy and Petersons dexterous virtuosity proving an effective study in contrasts. Blues" (with D.B. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Basie of Freeport. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. '', 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. Jones also continued a ride rhythm on hi-hat, while it was continuously opening and closing instead of the common practice of only striking it while it was closed. In 1952 he was featured on Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio, released in 1954 on Norgran. During his tenure, a composition by Nestico led President Johnson to remark "You call this music?" In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. When the Page band broke up in 1929, Mr. GREAT NEWS! Failed to report flower. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Death Year: 1984, Death date: April 26, 1984, Death State: Florida, Death City: Hollywood, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Count Basie Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/count-basie, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 14, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Count Basie was a Leo and was born in the G.I. He had three sons with his first wife. Peter Jennings (who was a jazz an) introduces a short feature on the career of Count Basie who died earlier in the day of pancreatic cancer. He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. With the group becoming highly distinguished for its soloists, rhythm section and style of swing, Basie himself was noted for his understated yet captivating style of piano playing and precise, impeccable musical leadership. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Count Basie I found on Findagrave.com. [21], This list is incomplete. His playing in the Basie band was characterized by a relaxed style which contrasted sharply with the more forceful approach of Coleman Hawkins, the dominant tenor sax player of the day. Even more important was the fact that the Famous Door had national and local radio wires. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. His father was a railroad worker. This account has been disabled. By then a series of records by the Basie band had begun appearing (under a contract with Decca Records by which Mr. Basie was paid a total of $750 for 24 sides with no royalties - ''probably the most expensive blunder in Basie's history,'' said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit - ''Swingin' the Blues,'' ''Jumpin' at the Woodside,'' ''One O'Clock Jump'' (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. In the 1986 film Round Midnight, the fictional main character Dale Turner, played by Dexter Gordon, was partly based on Young incorporating flashback references to his army experiences, and loosely depicting his time in Paris and his return to New York just before his death. ). His third wife was Mary Berkeley. [21][22] Both hold a PhD in Education, according to drummer Roy Haynes, who was interviewed as part of an attempt to create a film biography of Young. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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.''. Small record labels not bound by union contracts continued to record, and Young recorded some sessions for Harry Lim's Keynote label in 1943. While he was in his late teens, he gravitated to Harlem, where he encountered Fats Waller. Death rate from cardiovascular disease. Ruling Planet: Count Basie had a ruling planet of Sun and has a ruling planet of Sun and by astrological associations Saturday is ruled by Sun. 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. Young's playing style influenced many other tenor saxophonists, including Stan Getz, as well as Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Warne Marsh, as well as baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and alto saxophonists Lee Konitz, and Paul Desmond. "[4][9], After leaving the military, Nestico became a freelance arranger. From the Grand Terrace, it moved on to New York and Roseland Ballroom (playing opposite Woody Herman's new, young band) where listeners complained that it was out of tune (not a surprising reaction since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). When jazz record producer Norman Granz formed his Pablo label in the 1970s, several established jazz artists, including Basie, signed on in order to record unfettered by commercial demands. 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. 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. You can't have a Count Basie collection without going back to the beginning. 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. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. ''And that's when the whole fire started,'' said Mr. Alexander. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Count-Basie, All About Jazz - Biography of Count Basie, Long Island Music Hall of Fame - Biography of William Count Basie, African American Registry - Biography of Count Basie, BlackHistoryNow - Biography of Count Basie, National Endowment for the Arts - Biography of William "Count" Basie, Count Basie - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [1] Jones had a major influence on later drummers such as Buddy Rich, Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, and Louie Bellson. In 1935, Basie formed his own jazz orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Despite the presence of Lester Young and Herschel Evans in the saxophone section, Buck Clayton in the trumpet section, Jo Jones on drums, with Jimmy Rushing and, briefly, Billie Holiday as vocalists, the Basie band struggled for a year after it left Kansas City.