How did Basie get the nickname count?

The new band billed itself as Count Basie and his Cherry Blossom Orchestra, marking the first time that “Count” was officially added to his name. Though stories abound at the genesis of his nickname, Basie later recalled it as a tribute to his penchant for slipping off during arranging sessions with Moten.

Who gave Count Basie his nickname?

He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name, and, further, that there were a couple of well-known bandleaders named Earl Hines and Duke Ellington. Then he said, “Bill, I’ll call you Count Basie from now on.

What is Count Basie real name?

William James Basie
Count Basie/Full name

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.

What was Joe Williams nickname?

Williams was a 6-foot 4-inch (1.93 metre) right-handed pitcher who combined a high-velocity fastball with very good control. Williams was occasionally called “Cyclone,” a nickname, like “Smokey,” derived from the speed of his pitch.

How did Basie died?

Cancer
Count Basie/Cause of death
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 morning at Doctors’ Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. He was 79 years old and lived in Freeport, the Bahamas.

What made Count Basie unique?

Count Basie is considered one of the greatest bandleaders of all times. He was the arbiter of the big-band swing sound and his unique style of fusing blues and jazz established swing as a predominant music style.

Did Count Basie play the piano?

He quickly made a name for himself playing the piano at local venues and parties around town until he moved to New York City in search of greater opportunities. After a decade long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942.

Was Count Basie married?

Catherine Morganm. 1942–1983
Count Basie/Spouse
He quickly made a name for himself playing the piano at local venues and parties around town until he moved to New York City in search of greater opportunities. After a decade-long courtship, Basie married dancer Catherine Morgan, his second wife, on his birthday in 1942. They had one daughter, Diane, in 1944.

What was the gospel quartet Joe Williams started as a teenager?

By his early teen years, Joe Williams had taught himself to play the piano. He formed a Gospel vocal quartet called “The Jubilee Boys.” By his mid-teens Williams was singing solos at formal events with local bands.

How old is Joe Williams?

80 years (1918–1999)
Joe Williams/Age at death
Williams worked regularly until his death in Las Vegas on March 29, 1999, at the age of 80. He had been hospitalized the week before for a respiratory ailment, though the death was of natural causes.

What killed Count Basie?

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 morning at Doctors’ Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.

Why was Count Basie so successful?

A pianist, Count Basie played vaudeville before eventually forming his own big band and helping to define the era of swing with hits like “One O’Clock Jump” and “Blue Skies.” In 1958, Basie became the first African American male recipient of a Grammy Award.

What was the middle name of Count Basie?

One of jazz music’s all-time greats, he won many other Grammys throughout his career and worked with a plethora of artists, including Joe Williams and Ella Fitzgerald. 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 did Count Basie die and what year?

One of jazz music’s all-time greats, he won many other Grammys throughout his career and worked with a plethora of artists, including Joe Williams and Ella Fitzgerald. Basie died in Florida on April 26, 1984. Early Training and Career

Where was William j.basie born and raised?

William Basie was born at 229 Mechanic Street on August 21, 1904. His father, Harvey Lee Basie, was a coachman and caretaker; his mother, Lillian Childs Basie, was a laundress, taking in washing and ironing.

What kind of music did Count Basie play?

Over a sixty-plus year career, William “Count” Basie helped to establish jazz as a serious art form played not just in clubs but in theaters and concert halls. He established swing as one of jazz’s predominant styles, and solidified the link between jazz and the blues.