For many of the other participants, the photo shoot was the last time they saw him alive; he was the first musician in the famous photo to pass away. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He began working as an arranger for Count Basie in 1967, and wrote and arranged all the music for Basie's 1968 LP Basie Straight Ahead. In 1981, Mr. Basie was honored along with Cary Grant, Helen Hayes and other stars as a recipient of Washington's Kennedy Center honors for achievement in the performing arts. At the time of his death, a feature-length documentary film titled Shadow Man: The Sammy Nestico Story was in production. Basie played the vaudevillian circuit for a time until he got stuck in Kansas City, Missouri in the mid-1920s after his performance group disbanded. ''I wanted 13 men to think and play the same way. He would ask, "How does the bread smell?" Count Basie was born on the 21st of August, 1904. Try again later. This browser does not support getting your location. Search above to list available cemeteries. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Mr. Basie's wife, Catherine, died in April 1983. [4] Lester had two siblings a brother, Leonidas Raymond, known as Lee Young, who became a drummer, and a sister, Irma Cornelia. Of course, I wanted to play real jazz. "[25], Young made his final studio recordings and live performances in Paris in March 1959 with drummer Kenny Clarke at the tail end of an abbreviated European tour during which he ate next to nothing and drank heavily. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Beware, the Count is Here. Lester married three times. Young also recorded extensively in the late 1940s for Aladdin Records (1945-1947, where he had made the Cole recordings in 1942) and for Savoy (1944, 1949 and 1950), some sessions of which included Basie on piano. Suffering from diabetes and chronic arthritis during his later years, Basie continued to front his big band until a month before his death in 1984. He went on to join Walter Page's Blue Devils in 1928, which he would see as a pivotal moment in his career, being introduced to the big-band sound for the first time. [29], Lester Young is said to have popularized use of the term "cool" to mean something fashionable. He married Catherine Morgan on August 21, 1942, with whom he had one child. The band will continue under the guidance of Aaron Woodward, an adopted son of Mr. Basie who has worked closely with the orchestra leader during the last year. Despite a brief disbandment at the beginning of the 1950s, the band survived long past the Big Band era itself and the death of Basie in 1984. Jones performed regularly in later years at the West End jazz club at 116th and Broadway in New York City. [21], This list is incomplete. They were considered a model for ensemble rhythmic conception and tonal balancethis despite the fact that most of Basies sidemen in the 1930s were poor sight readers; mostly, the band relied on head arrangements (so called because the band had collectively composed and memorized them, rather than using sheet music). Duffy Jackson, a drummer whose swinging exuberance propelled him from child stardom to a prolific career behind Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and many others, died on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. He is rumored to have refused to play with the band on Friday, December 13 of that year for superstitious reasons, spurring his dismissal[11] although Young and drummer Jo Jones would later state that his departure had been in the works for months. From then on, it was Count Basie.''. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. ''And that's when the whole fire started,'' said Mr. Alexander. He made a habit of leaving, working, then going home. Try again later. Death Year: 1984, Death date: April 26, 1984, Death State: Florida, Death City: Hollywood, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Count Basie Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/count-basie, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 14, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Count Basie was born in Red Bank. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:11. Count Basie AKA William Allen Basie Born: 21-Aug - 1904 Birthplace: Red Bank, NJ Died: 26-Apr - 1984 Location of death: Hollywood, FL Cause of death: Cancer - Pancreatic Remains: Buried, Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, NY Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: Black Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Pianist, Jazz Musician Jonathan David Samuel Jones (October 7, 1911 - September 3, 1985) [1] was an American jazz drummer. Directing With a Glance Mr. Basie, a short, stocky, taciturn but witty man who liked to wear a yachting cap offstage, presided over the band at the piano with apparent utmost casualness. [5] He grew up in a musical family. This three-CD compilation celebrates the band's legendary Decca studio recordings made in New York when it was a hard-driving swing outfit on its way to becoming an American institution. After leaving the military, Nestico became a freelance arranger. Due to changing fortunes and an altered musical landscape, Basie was forced to scale down the size of his orchestra at the start of the 1950s, but he soon made a comeback and returned to his big-band structure in 1952, recording new hits with vocalist Joe Williams and becoming an international figure. Year should not be greater than current year. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. By then a series of records by the Basie band had begun appearing (under a contract with Decca Records by which Mr. Basie was paid a total of $750 for 24 sides with no royalties - ''probably the most expensive blunder in Basie's history,'' said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit - ''Swingin' the Blues,'' ''Jumpin' at the Woodside,'' ''One O'Clock Jump'' (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. He was sometimes known as Papa Jo Jones to distinguish him from younger . He recorded with trumpeter Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders in 1931, and later joined pianist Count Basie's band in 1934. Young's playing style influenced many other tenor saxophonists, including Stan Getz, as well as Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Warne Marsh, as well as baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and alto saxophonists Lee Konitz, and Paul Desmond. During the 1940's, many of the great jazz musicians of the decade passed through the band, among them Illinois Jacquet, Don Byas, Wardell Gray, Paul Quinichette, Lucky Thompson, J. J. Johnson, Paul Gonsalves and Clark Terry. I had never heard the blues played like that. One of jazz music's all-time greats, bandleader-pianist Count Basie was a primary shaper of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Meanwhile, keep on listening and tapping your feet. (Count Basie), Well, if you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night! (Count Basie), Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. One of the band's most popular arrangements, ''April in Paris,'' was written in 1955 by Wild Bill Davis, a jazz organist who had originally developed it for his own small group. His father, Harvey Lee Basie, was a coachman and caretaker; his mother, Lillian Childs Basie, was a laundress, taking in washing and ironing. [4][7], Beginning in 1982, Nestico began releasing solo albums, with Dark Orchid" as his debut album. Mr. Basie was born in Red Bank, N.J., on Aug. 21, 1904, an only child who was christened William. [11] He soon left Henderson to play in the Andy Kirk band (for six months) before returning to Basie. Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One OClock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. [1], Known for his hip, introverted style,[2] he invented or popularized much of the hipster jargon which came to be associated with the music. Even more important was the fact that the Famous Door had national and local radio wires. He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Count Bill Basie . People of this zodiac sign like to be admired, expensive things, bright colors, and dislike being ignored, facing difficulties, not being treated specially. His piano style, which often seemed bare and simple, was an exquisitely realized condensation of the florid ''stride'' style of Fats Waller and James P. Johnson with whom Mr. Basie started. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. [12], In the late 1960s, Sammy worked as an arranger and orchestrator for Capitol Records. The resulting song then became both an elegy to Young, and, implicitly, Mingus as well. William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. He became an accompanist to the blues singers Clara Smith and Maggie Jones and he worked in a 14th Street dance hall. The pianist in the combo gave up his seat to Mr. Basie who sat down, tinkled a few introductory notes, looked up at the drummer, nodded at the rest of the group and, when the combo took off, the musicians were playing as brilliantly and cleanly as they had been disheveled only a few moments before. In 1937 Basie took his group, Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, to New York to record their first album with Decca Records under their new name, The Count Basie Orchestra. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. During the 1960s and '70s, Basie recorded with luminaries like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. His father was a teacher and band leader. As orchestrator, he worked on nearly seventy television programs, including Mission: Impossible,[11] Mannix, M*A*S*H,[13] Charlie's Angels,[14] and The Mod Squad. Oops, something didn't work. Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 - March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. People born under this sign are energetic and excitable. Failed to delete memorial. The following year, she worked with Artie Shaw and his orchestra. Learn more about managing a memorial . cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Omissions? The funeral service will be at noon on Monday at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 West 138th Street. A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award. The 1950s band showcased the sound and style Basie was to employ for the remainder of his career, although there were to be occasionaland successfulexperiments such as Afrique (1970), an album of African rhythms and avant-garde compositions that still managed to remain faithful to the overall Basie sound. Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary Teach World 1.12K. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. Count Basie, the jazz pianist whose spare, economic keyboard style and supple rhythmic drive made his orchestra one of the most influential groups of the Big Band era, died of cancer yesterday. The Count Basie Orchestra had a slew of hits that helped to define the big-band sound of the 1930s and '40s. Click to reveal JUMP TO: Count Basies biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Jonathan David Samuel Jones (October 7, 1911 September 3, 1985)[1] was an American jazz drummer. Wayne Shorter, then of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, composed a tribute, called "Lester Left Town". If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Nestico continued to provide arrangements for Basie until Basie's death in 1984, and four of Nestico's collaborations with Basie earned Grammy . Stranded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1927, Basie remained there and eventually (in 1935) assumed the leadership of a nine-piece band composed of former members of the Walter Page and Bennie Moten orchestras. Count Basie, byname of William Basie, (born August 21, 1904, Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.died April 26, 1984, Hollywood, Florida), American jazz musician noted for his spare, economical piano style and for his leadership of influential and widely heralded big bands. Producer John Hammond heard the band's sound and helped secure further bookings. Basie was born William James Basie (with some sources listing his middle name as "Allen") on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. When we played pop tunes - and, naturally, we had to - I wanted those pops to kick! With Mr. Basie's 13 men in full cry at one end of this elongated closet, the sound ricocheting off the walls and rocketing down from the low ceiling, no listener could escape the exhilarating power of the band. During this period Young accompanied the singer Billie Holiday in a couple of studio sessions (19371941) and also made a small set of recordings with Nat "King" Cole (their first of several collaborations) in June 1942. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Basie of Freeport. See the article in its original context from. Nestico is best known for his arrangements for the Count Basie orchestra. [3], For the fictional television character, see, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 08:43, The Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Pete Brown, Jo Jones All Stars at Newport, Mae Barnes, Jo Jones, Buck Clayton, Ray Bryant, The Oscar Peterson Trio with Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge and Jo Jones at Newport, Sonny Stitt Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones, Jazz Icons: Coleman Hawkins-Live in 62 & 64, "Book Review: The Life and Opinions of Papa Jo Jones", "Jo Jones, 73, A Jazz Drummer Influential in Swing Era, Dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jo_Jones&oldid=1141690806, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 08:43. He was a big force in music.''. Resend Activation Email. As one Basie band member put it, Count dont do nothin. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Then I sat beside him and he taught me.'' Straub was inspired by Young's appearance on the 1957 CBS-TV show The Sound of Jazz, which he watched repeatedly, wondering how such a genius could have ended up "this present shambles, this human wreckage, hardly able to play at all". [4] to Lizetta Young (ne Johnson), and Willis Handy Young, originally from Louisiana. standing for detention barracks).[16]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This account has been disabled. He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. [6], In 1933, Young settled in Kansas City, where after playing briefly in several bands, he rose to prominence with Count Basie. Throughout the 1960s, Basies recordings were often uninspired and marred by poor choice of material, but he remained an exceptional concert performer and made fine records with singers Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Frank Sinatra. '', Soloists were less prominent in this second edition of the Basie band although it included some of the major jazz musicians of the post-50's years, such as Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Al Grey, Eddie (Lockjaw) Davis, Frank Wess, Jimmy Forrest and the blues singer Joe Williams. ''He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name and that there were a couple of well-known bandleaders named Earl Hines and Duke Ellington.
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