
Known for
Acting
Born
August 21, 1904
Birthplace
Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Died
April 26, 1984 (aged 79)
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 "Sweet...
TBA
as (archive footage)
2022
as Self (voice) (archive sound)
2022
as Self (archive footage)
2022
as Self (archive footage)
2020
as self
2020
2019
as Self (archive footage)
2014
as Self (archive footage)
2011
2007
as Himself (archive footage)
2006
as Himself
2006
In Memory Of
2005
as Self (archive footage)
2004
as Self (archive footage)
2004
as Self
2003
as Self (archive footage)
2001
as Self
1993
as Self (archive footage)
1981
1981
as Self
1980
1979
as Self
1979
as Sself (Piano, Conductor)
1978
1974
as Count Basie