Quick Facts
Born:
1904-08-21
Birthplace:
Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Credits:
49 Total Roles
Count Basie
Acting
The MovieWise Take
Refining cinematic analysis...
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.
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.
Known For
Blazing Saddles
Self
Cinderfella
Count Basie
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (voice) (archive sound)
Billie
self
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
Stage Door Canteen
Count Basie
Sid & Judy
Self (archive footage)
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues MOVIE | Self (voice) (archive sound) |
| 2022 | Rat Pack MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2022 | Charlie Parker: Bird Songs MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2020 | Billie MOVIE | self |
| 2020 | Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes MOVIE | Self |
| 2019 | Sid & Judy MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2014 | Jazz Legends in Their Own Words MOVIE | Self (archive footage) |
| 2011 | All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater MOVIE | Self |
| 2007 | Music Inn MOVIE | Himself (archive footage) |
| 2006 | Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62 MOVIE | Himself |