Count Basie

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.

Movies & TV Shows

1. Blazing Saddles (1974) — Self
2. Cinderfella (1960) — Count Basie
3. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) — Self
4. Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (2022) — Self (voice) (archive sound)
5. Billie (2020) — self
6. The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) — Self
7. Stage Door Canteen (1943) — Count Basie
8. Sid & Judy (2019) — Self (archive footage)
9. Piano Blues (2003) — Self (archive footage)
10. Made in Paris (1966) — Count Basie
11. The Merv Griffin Show (1962) — Self
12. The Mike Douglas Show (1961) — Self
13. The Kennedy Center Honors (1978) — Self
14. Jamboree! (1957) — Count Basie
15. ABC Stage 67 (1966) — Self
16. The Steve Allen Show (1956) — Self - Conductor
17. Air Mail Special (1941) — Self
18. The Hollywood Palace (1964) — Self - Pianist
19. The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) — Self
20. The Last of the Blue Devils (1979) — Self
21. Rhythm and Blues Revue (1955) — Self
22. Crazy House (1943) — Count Basie
23. Charlie Parker: Bird Songs (2022) — Self (archive footage)
24. The Judy Garland Show (1963) — Self
25. Startime (1959) — Self
26. Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes (2020)
27. Rat Pack (2022) — Self (archive footage)
28. Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match" (1979) — Sself (Piano, Conductor)
29. Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music (1993) — Self (archive footage)
30. Astaire Time (1960) — Self
31. 'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet (1951)
32. The Harlem Renaissance (2004) — Self (archive footage)
33. Ebony Parade — (archive footage)
34. Take Me Back, Baby (1941)
35. Top Man (1943) — Orchestra Leader
36. Policy Man (1938) — Count Basie
37. Music Inn (2007) — Himself (archive footage)
38. Frank Sinatra Spectacular (1965) — Self
39. Count Basie At Carnegie Hall (1981) — Self
40. Cavalcade of Bands (1950)