Count Basie, an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer, was born on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey as William Basie. He is considered one of the best bandleaders of all time and changed the entire jazz landscape. He also shaped the mid 20th century pop music and earned the title “King of Swing”.
Both of his parents, Harvey and Lillian Basie, were musicians. He started piano at a very early age with his mother giving him his first lessons and played the drums in his school band. With an incredible ear, he could repeat any tune he heard. Though he excelled musically, Count Basie ended up dropping out of junior high school and learned to operate lights for Vaudeville. He eventually started improvising at the local theatre when he played for a show, which the pianist did not arrive on time. …show more content…
Count Basie joined Walter Page’s Blue Devils in 1928 and when the band broke up in 1929, Bennie Moten’s band hired him. He led his own band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later and the band continued to perform afterwards. It was during the 1950s that the changing musical landscape forced Basie to scale down the size of his orchestra. However, in 1952, he made a comeback and returned with his big-band structure.
William Basie became Count Basie during a radio broadcast when the announcer decided to call him “Count” with Basie not realizing the name would catch on.
He received poor treatment due to his race, but he stayed positive and just focused on his
Both of his parents, Harvey and Lillian Basie, were musicians. He started piano at a very early age with his mother giving him his first lessons and played the drums in his school band. With an incredible ear, he could repeat any tune he heard. Though he excelled musically, Count Basie ended up dropping out of junior high school and learned to operate lights for Vaudeville. He eventually started improvising at the local theatre when he played for a show, which the pianist did not arrive on time. …show more content…
Count Basie joined Walter Page’s Blue Devils in 1928 and when the band broke up in 1929, Bennie Moten’s band hired him. He led his own band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later and the band continued to perform afterwards. It was during the 1950s that the changing musical landscape forced Basie to scale down the size of his orchestra. However, in 1952, he made a comeback and returned with his big-band structure.
William Basie became Count Basie during a radio broadcast when the announcer decided to call him “Count” with Basie not realizing the name would catch on.
He received poor treatment due to his race, but he stayed positive and just focused on his