Count Basie
American jazz musician and composer (1904–1984) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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William James "Count" Basie (/ˈbeɪsi/; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984)[1] 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, 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, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams.
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Birth name | William James Basie |
Born | (1904-08-21)August 21, 1904 Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | April 26, 1984(1984-04-26) (aged 79) Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
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Years active | 1924–1984 |