| Count Basie |
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Biography | ||
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Born: August 21, 1904 Hometown: Red Bank, New Jersey Instrument: Piano Music Training: Home schooled Bands and Orchestras: June Clark, Walter Page's Blue Devils, Bennie Morton Band, Count Basie Orchestra Signature Song: "One O'clock Jump" Count Basie biography: His first musical influences in his hometown of Red Bank, NJ were Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson and Fats Waller. During the 1920s he started his musical career on the vaudeville circuit in New York City. He then found work as a piano accompaniest in silent movie theaters. After that he joined Walter Page’s Blue Devils and along with several of the other members jumped to Bernie Moten’s Kansas City Band. After Bennie Moten died in 1935 he formed his own 9 piece band the Baron's of Rhythym. His group garnered lots of attention for his Swing style from live broadcasts of his music from the Reno Club. His popularity placed him on an even keel with "Duke" Ellington and earned him the nickname "Count." A stint at Chicago's Grand Terrace garnered little attention, so Basie expanded the group to 15 for his next engagement at New York’s Roseland. After another stint in Chicago and a gig at Boston's Ritz Carlton Hotel, the group returned to play at New York's Famous Door on 52nd Street. The group played to sold out audiences and the band took off. The Basie Orchestra made its recording debut in 1937 on Decca Records and "One O'clock Jump" became the groups first hit single in September of that year. The group continued to perform through the 60s and 70s backing up such famous vocalists as Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Jr., The Mills Brothers and Jackie Wilson. Died: April, 1984
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