He originally wanted to be a drummer, but he grew up near Sonny Greer, who would become Duke Ellington s legendary drummer in 1919. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. He left home permanently in 1932 when he became a member of the Blue Devils led by Walter Page. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. JUMP TO: Count Basies biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. During 1950 and 51, economy forced Basie to front an octet, the only period in his career in which he did not lead a big band. [11] He soon left Henderson to play in the Andy Kirk band (for six months) before returning to Basie. [4] Lester had two siblings a brother, Leonidas Raymond, known as Lee Young, who became a drummer, and a sister, Irma Cornelia. 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". ''And that's when the whole fire started,'' said Mr. Alexander. Once more details are available, we will update this section. *How USAFacts measures death. He recorded less often with his big band during this era (although when he did, the results were outstanding), concentrating instead on small-group and piano-duet recordings. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Ruling Planet: Count Basie had a ruling planet of Sun and has a ruling planet of Sun and by astrological associations Saturday is ruled by Sun. ''Can you imagine a man who kind of romps around the piano,'' Mr. Shearing said, ''and those tiny tinkling things. This is a carousel with slides. 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. While growing up in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, he worked from the age of five to make money for the family. 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. In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award. I mean, he'll concert you all, and then he'll swing you all, too, you understand, when he's ready to. The work was subsequently adapted for the theater, and was staged in November of that year at the Manhattan Theater Club, New York City, with a four-piece jazz combo led by Dwight Andrews.[33]. William James " Count " Basie ( / besi /; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) [1] was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Young was the subject and inspiration of Prez. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. This page is updated often with latest details about Count Basie. At age 17, Nestico joined the ABC radio station WCAE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a trombonist. Verify and try again. These performances were generally well attended by other drummers such as Max Roach and Roy Haynes. Of course, I wanted to play real jazz. The causes of death rooted in complex mental health and substance abuse issues, such as drug overdoses and suicide, comprise a relatively small portion of deaths, but are increasing faster than most other causes. Young played clarinet as well as tenor in these sessions. Learn more about merges. He conducted and recorded his arrangements with several leading European Radio Jazz Orchestras, including the BBC Big Band in London, Germany's SWR Big Band and NDR Big Band and the DR Big Band, as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra in America. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. "Ivey-Divey" was one of Lester Young's common eccentric phrases. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The impact Basie had can be seen across the country. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Count Basie I found on Findagrave.com. Cholera deaths in Great Britain over the long-term. The story of Count Basie is very much the story of the great jazz band that he led for close to 50 years (1935-1984), an orchestra with a distinctive . It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. His playing showed reliance on a small number of clichd phrases and reduced creativity and originality, despite his claims that he did not want to be a "repeater pencil" (Young coined this phrase to describe the act of repeating one's own past ideas). She gave Lester the nickname "Prez" after President Franklin Roosevelt, the "greatest man around" in Billie's mind. [1] Jones, Basie, guitarist Freddie Green and bassist Walter Page were sometimes billed as an "All-American Rhythm section," an ideal team. On a flight to New York City, he suffered from internal bleeding due to the effects of alcoholism and died in the early morning hours of March 15, 1959, only hours after arriving back in New York, at the age of 49.[26]. Lester married three times. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b3f35bc02472d based on information from your browser. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. He subsequently led a number of small groups that often included his brother, drummer Lee Young, for the next couple of years; live and broadcast recordings from this period exist. The broadcast was picked up one night by John Hammond, the jazz enthusiast who had discovered Billie Holiday and helped Benny Goodman start his band. One of Kansas City's own, Ronald McFadden, 66, who together with his brother Lonnie, is well known for entertaining audiences in Kansas City and worldwide, died unexpectedly Monday evening. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 208.109.12.159 In contrast to the prevailing jazz drum style exemplified by Gene Krupa's loud, insistent pounding of the bass drum on each beat, Jones often omitted bass drum playing altogether. ). [12], Nestico wrote hundreds of arrangements for school band and jazz band programs. During his tenure, a composition by Nestico led President Johnson to remark "You call this music?" and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role in the death of the big-band era. When is Count Basies birthday? Young is a major character in English writer Geoff Dyer's 1991 fictional book about jazz, But Beautiful. Causes of deaths for people who were 70 years and older. One famous instance of his irritable temper was in the spring of 1936, during a jam session at the Reno Club in Kansas City. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Holiday always insisted their relationship was strictly platonic. Then he said, 'Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. Especially noteworthy were the albums featuring the duo of Basie and Oscar Peterson, with Basies economy and Petersons dexterous virtuosity proving an effective study in contrasts. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Please check back soon for updates. A band leader and pioneer in jazz percussion, Jones anchored the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section from 1934 to 1948. The 1994 documentary about the 1958 Esquire "A Great Day in Harlem" photograph of jazz musicians in New York, contains many remembrances of Young. (William) Count Basie (1904-1984) was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a century. The greatest overall compatibility with Leo is Aquarius, Gemini. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 - April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Death rate from Alzheimer's. Death rate from cancer. Causes of deaths for children between 5 and 14. The band itself carried on into the next century, with Thad Jones, Frank Foster, and Grover Mitchell each assuming leadership for various intervals. Basie ultimately earned nine Grammy Awards over the course of his career, but he made history when he won his first, in 1958, as the first African American man to receive a Grammy. The ''book'' of this early Basie band was based on blues and riffs developed on a blues structure. In addition, he played trombone, in the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, and Charlie Barnet. All Rights Reserved. [17] Young's playing and health went into a crisis, culminating in a November 1955 hospital admission following a nervous breakdown. But I wanted that bite to be just as tasty and subtle as if it were the three brass I used to use. Please try again later. 0 cemeteries found in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA. One day he asked me whether I played the organ. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The jazz pianist George Shearing said that Mr. Basie's greatest trademark was the three sweet, soft notes that ended many of his great swing-era compositions. Live. In his hometown of Red Bank, there is now a Count Basie Theatre and a Count Basie Field. His experience inspired his composition "D.B. He flicked out tightly economical, single-finger passages, directing his musicians with a glance, a lift of an eyebrow or a note hit gently but positively in passing. Basie studied music with his mother and was later influenced by the Harlem pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, receiving informal tutelage on the organ from the latter. Young left the Basie band to replace Hawkins in Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. Count Bill Basie . Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Mr. Basie's musicians had been playing ''head'' arrangements in Kansas City - treatments of the blues or pop tunes that were worked out on the stand. [1] He worked as a drummer and tap-dancer at carnival shows until joining Walter Page's band, the Blue Devils in Oklahoma City in the late 1920s. Year should not be greater than current year. Please reset your password. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Failed to delete memorial. He rose to fame after taking over Bennie Moten's band in 1935. He emerged from this treatment improved. Count Basies mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. In 2009, Nestico said in an interview "I didn't answer, although I didn't think [Johnson's] concept of music was worth a damn. [1] Jones had a major influence on later drummers such as Buddy Rich, Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, and Louie Bellson. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". As a pianist Basie was equally great and was intensely rhythmic, using as few notes as possible. 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. They had two children: Lester W. Young Jr. (born 1947) and Yvette Young (born 1957). This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. [12], Nestico married his second wife, Shirley, in 1995, and was married to her until his death. His father was a student of the mellophone, and his mother was a pianist. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. With Count Basie In contrast to many of his hard-driving peers, Young played with a relaxed, cool tone and used sophisticated harmonies, using what one critic called "a free-floating style, wheeling and diving like a gull, banking with low, funky riffs that pleased dancers and listeners alike". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Count-Basie, All About Jazz - Biography of Count Basie, Long Island Music Hall of Fame - Biography of William Count Basie, African American Registry - Biography of Count Basie, BlackHistoryNow - Biography of Count Basie, National Endowment for the Arts - Biography of William "Count" Basie, Count Basie - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [35], On 17 March 2003, Young was added to the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame, along with Sidney Bechet, Al Cohn, Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee and Teddy Wilson. From that time on, I was a daily customer, hanging onto every note, sitting behind him all the time. After some challenges, the Count Basie Orchestra had a slew of hits that helped to define the big-band sound of the 1930s and '40s. 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 1952 he was featured on Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio, released in 1954 on Norgran. Among his band's best-known numbers were ''One O'Clock Jump,'' ''Jumpin' at the Woodside,'' ''Li'l Darlin' '' and ''April in Paris.''. Jones was the 1985 recipient of an American Jazz Masters fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Discover what happened on this day. Whereas other pianists were noted for technical flash and dazzling dexterity, Basie was known for his use of silence and for reducing his solo passages to the minimum amount of notes required for maximum emotional and rhythmic effect. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? (Fans distinguish the two major eras in Basie bands as the Old Testament and New Testament.) The Basie orchestra of the 1950s was a slick, professional unit that was expert at sight reading and demanding arrangements. His father was a teacher and band leader. [21], This list is incomplete. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Singer Joe Williams, whose authoritative, blues-influenced vocals can be heard on hit recordings such as Every Day I Have the Blues and Alright, Okay, You Win, was also a major component in the bands success. Birthday: August 21, 1904 Date of Death: April 26, 1984 Age at Death: 79 Live Live Death Statistics Worldwide and The United States Count Basie - Biography Mr. Hammond spread the word about the Basie band, went to Kansas City to hear it and support it and brought it to the attention of booking agents. Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary Teach World 1.12K. Try again later. Young did not fight the charges and was convicted. I thought he was kidding, shrugged my shoulders and repled, 'O.K.' On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Jones also continued a ride rhythm on hi-hat, while it was continuously opening and closing instead of the common practice of only striking it while it was closed. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. For a smaller band, the Savoy Sultans had a great swing thing going. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Count was 79 years old at the time of death. [7] Young left the family band in 1927 at the age of 18 because he refused to tour in the Southern United States, where Jim Crow laws were in effect and racial segregation was required in public facilities. Count Basies birth sign is Leo and he had a ruling planet of Sun. In 1981 OyamO (Charles F. Gordon) published the book The Resurrection of Lady Lester, subtitled "A Poetic Mood Song Based on the Legend of Lester Young", depicting Young's life. The best-known of these appearances is the July 1957 performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, with a line-up including many of his 1940s colleagues: Jo Jones, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet and Jimmy Rushing. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. In January 1956, he recorded two Granz-produced sessions including a reunion with pianist Teddy Wilson, trumpet player Roy Eldridge, trombonist Vic Dickenson, bassist Gene Ramey, and drummer Jo Jones which were issued as The Jazz Giants '56 and Pres and Teddy albums. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:11. In 1958, Count Basie became the first African-American male recipient of a Grammy Award. His group, Count Basie and his Cherry Blossoms, was an outgrowth of Bennie Motens band in Kansas City. In 1952 increased demand for personal appearances allowed Basie to form a new orchestra that in many ways was as highly praised as his bands of the 1930s and 40s. It was a reunion with Holiday, with whom he had lost contact over the years. . 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. Even more important was the fact that the Famous Door had national and local radio wires. Click to reveal In the 1986 film Round Midnight, the fictional main character Dale Turner, played by Dexter Gordon, was partly based on Young incorporating flashback references to his army experiences, and loosely depicting his time in Paris and his return to New York just before his death. ''He was a wonderful man. At the time of his death, a feature-length documentary film titled Shadow Man: The Sammy Nestico Story was in production. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Beware, the Count is Here. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. recording ban by the American Federation of Musicians, Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio, The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, "Lester 'Pres' Young in Minneapolis: The Formative Years", "Frankie Trumbauer - Biography & History", "Lester Young - Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio - AllMusic", "Stories of Standards: Lester Leaps In by Lester Young", "Lester Young With the Oscar Peterson Trio - Lester Young | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Young, Lester, Jr. (2008/01/31) | Oral History", "Lester Young: 'The Prez' Still Rules At 100", "Seven Music Greats Added to ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lester_Young&oldid=1142318678, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. When jazz record producer Norman Granz formed his Pablo label in the 1970s, several established jazz artists, including Basie, signed on in order to record unfettered by commercial demands. Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Oscar Peterson and Quincy Jones were among the stars to pay tribute. [4] In 1939, he wrote his first arrangement. When we played pop tunesand, naturally, we had toI wanted those pops to kick! Early "in person" recordings. [13] Playing on her name, he would call her "Lady Day." But the obvious talents of another young Red Bank drummer, Sonny Greer, who was Duke Ellington's drummer from 1919 to 1951, discouraged young Basie and he switched to piano. Outstanding soloists such as tenor saxophonists Lucky Thompson, Paul Quinichette, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis and trumpeters Clark Terry and Charlie Shavers, figured prominently. 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.
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