Count Basie

Personal Info

Know For

Acting

Gender

Male

Birthday

1904-08-21 (80 years old)

Deathday

1984-04-26

Place of Birth

Red Bank, New Jersey, USA

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 Fredd...

Acting

1960

Cinderfella

as Count Basie

2022

Rat Pack

as Self (archive footage)

1974

2022

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

as Self (voice) (archive sound)

2004

The Harlem Renaissance

as Self (archive footage)

1943

Stage Door Canteen

as Count Basie

-

Ebony Parade

as (archive footage)

2005

Judy Garland Duets

as Self (archive footage)

2004

1941

1993

1943

Crazy House

as Count Basie

1943

Top Man

as Orchestra Leader

1938

Policy Man

as Count Basie

2007

Music Inn

as Himself (archive footage)

2019

Sid & Judy

as Self (archive footage)

2003

Piano Blues

as Self (archive footage)

2020

Billie

as self

2022

Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

as Self (archive footage)

2014

Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

as Self (archive footage)

Production

2006

Sentimental Journey

as In Memory Of

1948

Killer Diller

as Original Music Composer

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