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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
August 21, 1904
Died
April 26, 1984
Place of Birth
Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Also Known As
- William James Basie
Count Basie
0.2 Popularity
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
6.7
Self (voice) (archive sound)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
9.0
Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
2022
6.8
Self (archive footage)
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
2022
6.8
self
Billie
2020
7.0
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
2020
7.4
Self (archive footage)
Sid & Judy
2019
0.0
Self (archive footage)
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
2014
🎬
0.0
Self
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
2011
0.0
Himself (archive footage)
Music Inn
2007
0.0
Himself
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
2006
Credits
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (voice) (archive sound)
2022
6.7
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
2022
9.0
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
as Self (archive footage)
2022
6.8
Billie
as self
2020
6.8
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
2020
7.0
Sid & Judy
as Self (archive footage)
2019
7.4
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
as Self (archive footage)
2014
0.0
🎬
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
as Self
2011
0.0
Music Inn
as Himself (archive footage)
2007
0.0
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
as Himself
2006
0.0
Judy Garland Duets
as Self (archive footage)
2005
0.0
Improvisation
as Self
2004
0.0
The Harlem Renaissance
as Self (archive footage)
2004
6.0
Piano Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2003
6.5
🎬
New York in the Fifties
as Self
2001
0.0
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
as Self (archive footage)
1993
6.0
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
as Self
1981
0.0
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
as Self
1981
10.0
The Big Show
as Self
1980
0.0
The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story
as Self
1979
7.3
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
as Sself (Piano, Conductor)
1979
9.0
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
1978
7.4
Blazing Saddles
as Self
1974
7.2
ABC Stage 67
as Self
1966
6.2
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
as Self
1965
9.0
The Hollywood Palace
as Self - Pianist
1964
4.5
The Judy Garland Show
as Self
1963
8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
7.5
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
1962
6.2
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
5.4
Cinderfella
as Count Basie
1960
6.1
Jamboree!
as Count Basie
1957
4.6
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
1956
6.0
The Steve Allen Show
as Self - Conductor
1956
5.6
The Steve Allen Show
as Self - Pianist
1956
5.6
The Steve Allen Show
as Self - Bandleader
1956
5.6
Rhythm and Blues Revue
as Self
1955
6.0
🎬
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
1951
0.0
Basie Boogie
1950
0.0
🎬
Cavalcade of Bands
1950
0.0
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948
6.8
Crazy House
as Count Basie
1943
5.0
Top Man
as Orchestra Leader
1943
0.0
Stage Door Canteen
as Count Basie
1943
6.1
Air Mail Special
as Self
1941
6.2
Take Me Back, Baby
1941
7.0
Policy Man
as Count Basie
1938
0.0
Ebony Parade
as (archive footage)
N/A
0.0