''He was the only leader in the business who ever went out of his way to help me,'' Mr. Basie said later. Scale for the musicians at the Reno Club, where beer was a nickel and whisky was 15 cents, was $15 a week for playing from 8 P.M. to 4 A.M., except Saturdays when it was 8 P.M. until 8 A.M. And it was a seven-day week. 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". Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? A group that included some Basie sidemen was on stage, playing in a ragged, desultory fashion, when Mr. Basie arrived. Recordings made during this and subsequent periods suggest Young was beginning to make much greater use of a plastic reed, which tended to give his playing a somewhat heavier, breathier tone (although still quite smooth compared to that of many other players). He served one traumatic year in a detention barracks[15] and was dishonorably discharged in late 1945. 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. He is survived by a daughter, Diane Basie of Freeport. It had continued success throughout the war years, but, like all big bands, it had declined in popularity by the end of the 1940s. In September 1944, Young and Jo Jones were in Los Angeles with the Basie Band when they were inducted into the U.S. Army. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. [34], Peter Straub's short story collection Magic Terror (2000) contains a story called "Pork Pie Hat", a fictionalized account of the life of Lester Young. When the Page band broke up in 1929, Mr. Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary Teach World 1.12K. "Sammy Nestico | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links", "How my father pursued the American Dream", "Sammy Nestico, 'the Rolls Royce of composers and arrangers' in big-band jazz, dies at 96", "Pittsburgh Native writer/arranger/bandleader Sammy Nestico has passed, weeks short of his 97th birthday", "Massillon Museum to offer virtual Q&A with filmmaker", "Sammy Nestico, prolific composer and arranger for Count Basie, dies at 96", "Dave's WOW: Beloved American composer and arranger Sammy Nestico dies at 96", "Count Basie arranger Sammy Nestico has died The Syncopated Times", "Sammy Nestico | Album Discography | AllMusic", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sammy_Nestico&oldid=1130442453, United States Army personnel of World War II, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 05:30. He received awards from North Texas State University in 1978, 1979, and 1980. While he was in his late teens, he gravitated to Harlem, where he encountered Fats Waller. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Young joined Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic troupe in 1946, touring regularly with JATP over the next 12 years. Early "in person" recordings. In 1979, Jones was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Birmingham, Alabama musical heritage. He was soon court-martialed. From 1935 to his death in 1984, pianist and bandleader Count Basie led one of the most important jazz institutions of the 20th century, in the process forging a distinctive sound that changed the . We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. During his career, Nestico composed, arranged, or conducted albums for musicians and singers including Quincy Jones, Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Toni Tennille, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. Well, that was the last time I was ever introduced as Bill Basie. He was also helming one of the biggest, most renowned African American jazz groups of the day. At the time of his death, a feature-length documentary film titled Shadow Man: The Sammy Nestico Story was in production. Count Basie was born in the Year of the Dragon. His second great band, from the 1950s onwards, relied more on arrangements, typically from Neil Hefti and Ernie Wilkin's. A few of his songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as well, including "April in Paris" and "Everyday I Have the Blues.". Throughout the 1940s and 50s, Young occasionally played as a featured guest with the Count Basie Orchestra. Count Basie Birth Name: William James Basie Occupation: Pianist Place Of Birth: Red Bank Date Of Birth: August21, 1904 Date Of Death: April 26, 1984 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Black Nationality: American Count Basie was born on the 21st of August, 1904. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. The band flopped at a Pittsburgh hotel that had never booked a jazz band before. For many of the other participants, the photo shoot was the last time they saw him alive; he was the first musician in the famous photo to pass away. One night, while the band was broadcasting on a shortwave radio station in Kansas City, he was dubbed Count Basie by a radio announcer who wanted to indicate his standing in a class with aristocrats of jazz such as Duke Ellington. Nestico continued to provide arrangements for Basie until Basie's death in 1984, and four of Nestico's collaborations with Basie earned Grammy Awards. Duffy Jackson, a drummer whose swinging exuberance propelled him from child stardom to a prolific career behind Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and many others, died on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. In August 1944, Young appeared alongside drummer Jo Jones, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, and fellow tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet in Gjon Mili's short film Jammin' the Blues. 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. He got used to seeing me, as though I were part of the show. In 1958, Count Basie became the first African-American male recipient of a Grammy Award. 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. In 1950, when big bands were falling apart, Mr. Basie cut down to an eight-piece group but by 1952 he was leading a big band once again. "[4][9], After leaving the military, Nestico became a freelance arranger. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. [15] He also worked as an arranger for the 81st Academy Awards, as well as some Grammy Awards. It was on one of these broadcasts that Bill Basie became Count Basie. ). ''He was a wonderful man. Occupation (s) Musician. During his last years, he had difficulty walking and rode out on the stage on a motorized wheelchair which he sometimes drove with joyful abandon. The Basie orchestra had several hit recordings during the late 1930s and early 40s, among them Jumpin at the Woodside, Every Tub, Lester Leaps In, Super Chief, Taxi War Dance, Miss Thing, Shorty George, and One OClock Jump, the bands biggest hit and theme song. The Sun is about vitality and is the core giver of life. These performances were generally well attended by other drummers such as Max Roach and Roy Haynes. Young is a major character in English writer Geoff Dyer's 1991 fictional book about jazz, But Beautiful. This second-generation big band differed from the early one in that it depended on arrangers for its basic style, a smooth, rolling, highly polished swing style for which Neal Hefti (''Li'l Darlin' ''), Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster (''Shiny Stockings'') were among the most notable orchestrators. Basie began his career as a stride pianist, reflecting the influence of Johnson and Waller, but the style most associated with him was characterized by spareness and precision. After moving to New York, he was further influenced by James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, with Waller teaching Basie organ-playing techniques. She was also in physical decline, near the end of her career, yet they both gave moving performances. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. Fresh out of Kansas City, the Basie band took Manhattan by storm in 1937. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Count Basie (1664)? A band leader and pioneer in jazz percussion, Jones anchored the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section from 1934 to 1948. ''Can you imagine a man who kind of romps around the piano,'' Mr. Shearing said, ''and those tiny tinkling things. Sorry! The Basie band kept working into the 1970s, with the Count in his yachting cap that he had adopted in the 1960s, but his age and changing fashion eventually caught up with him. "[12] As well as the Kansas City Sessions, his clarinet work from 193839 is documented on recordings with Basie, Billie Holiday, Basie small groups, and the organist Glenn Hardman. when asking how much a gig was going to pay.[31]. His first marriage was to Beatrice Tolliver, in Albuquerque, on 23 February 1930. Outstanding soloists such as tenor saxophonists Lucky Thompson, Paul Quinichette, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis and trumpeters Clark Terry and Charlie Shavers, figured prominently. I had never heard the blues played like that. He also received a distinguished alumni award from Duquesne, and in 1994 was inducted into Duquesne's "Century Club". This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. [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. "Ivey-Divey" was one of Lester Young's common eccentric phrases. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. In 1937 Basie took his group, Count Basie and His Barons of Rhythm, to New York to record their first album with Decca Records under their new name, The Count Basie Orchestra. When the band left for Chicago it had only 12 written arrangements in its book. Add to your scrapbook. In 1952 he was featured on Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio, released in 1954 on Norgran. Even in Harlem, it puzzled the aware audiences at the Savoy Ballroom. From the Grand Terrace, it moved on to New York and Roseland Ballroom (playing opposite Woody Herman's new, young band) where listeners complained that it was out of tune (not a surprising reaction since many of Mr. Basie's musicians were blowing patched-up horns and saxophones held together by rubber bands). William James Basie is part of G.I. Despite the presence of Lester Young and Herschel Evans in the saxophone section, Buck Clayton in the trumpet section, Jo Jones on drums, with Jimmy Rushing and, briefly, Billie Holiday as vocalists, the Basie band struggled for a year after it left Kansas City. "[27] Holiday died four months later on July 17, 1959 at age 44. By then a series of records by the Basie band had begun appearing (under a contract with Decca Records by which Mr. Basie was paid a total of $750 for 24 sides with no royalties - ''probably the most expensive blunder in Basie's history,'' said Mr. Hammond) that included hit after hit - ''Swingin' the Blues,'' ''Jumpin' at the Woodside,'' ''One O'Clock Jump'' (his theme) and many others now considered jazz classics. The strengths of this sign are being creative, passionate, generous, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous, while weaknesses can be arrogant, stubborn, self-centered, lazy and inflexible. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. At a White House reception, President Reagan said that Mr. Basie was ''among the handful of musicians that helped change the path of American music in the 30's and the 40's'' and that he had ''revolutionized jazz.''. This classic session finds the great tenor in particularly expressive form.[19]. Producer John Hammond heard the band's sound and helped secure further bookings. Beware, the Count is Here. On December 8, 1957, Young appeared with Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, and Gerry Mulligan in the CBS television special The Sound of Jazz, performing Holiday's tune "Fine and Mellow." The Basie band played at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball, and in 1965 toured with Frank Sinatra. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. 208.109.12.159 His group, Count Basie and his Cherry Blossoms, was an outgrowth of Bennie Motens band in Kansas City. [32] At Minguss request, Joni Mitchell wrote lyrics to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat which incorporated stories Mingus told Mitchell about Young; the song was featured on Mitchells 1979 album release, Mingus, a collaboration instigated by Mingus during the last year of his life as he struggled with the ALS that would kill him. 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. Along with Duke Ellington, Count Basie is regarded as one of the two most important and influential bandleaders in the history of jazz. Basie then formed the Barons of Rhythm with some of his bandmates from Moten's group, including saxophonist Lester Young. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Best Known For: One of jazz music's all-time greats, bandleader-pianist Count Basie was a primary shaper of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music. When we played pop tunesand, naturally, we had toI wanted those pops to kick! He would ask, "How does the bread smell?" Chinese Zodiac: Count Basie was born in the Year of the Rabbit. [28] Sonny Stitt began to incorporate elements from Lester Young's approach when he made the transition to tenor saxophone. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. He emerged from this treatment improved. Corrections? He wrote many books, including The Complete Arranger, which was first published in 1993 and has since been revised and published in at least four languages. Biography - A Short Wiki Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One O'Clock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. With the group becoming highly distinguished for its soloists, rhythm section and style of swing, Basie himself was noted for his understated yet captivating style of piano playing and precise, impeccable musical leadership. Instrument (s) Drums. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. [13] Playing on her name, he would call her "Lady Day." Duffy Jackson, with bassist Jim Furgeson, at Rudy's Jazz Room in Nashville. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Jazz Musician. In fact, the only reason I enlarged the brass was to get a richer harmonic structure. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch. (Count Basie), Of course, there are a lot of ways you can treat the blues, but it will still be the blues. (Count Basie), Im saying: to be continued, until we meet again. Another cause for the thickening of his tone around this time was a change in saxophone mouthpiece from a metal Otto Link to an ebonite Brilhart. This is a carousel with slides. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He was represented at the ceremony by his children Lester Young Jr and Yvette Young.[36]. He left the world an almost unparalleled legacy of musical greatness, having recorded or been affiliated with dozens upon dozens of albums during his lifetime. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. He began his professional career as an accompanist on the vaudeville circuit. From around 1951, Young's level of playing declined more precipitously as his drinking increased. His father, Harvey Lee Basie, was a coachman and caretaker; his mother, Lillian Childs Basie, was a laundress, taking in washing and ironing. As a result, the band got a date at the Grand Terrace in Chicago. In December 1943, Young returned to the Basie fold for a 10-month stint, cut short by his being drafted into the army during World War II. Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 - March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist.. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most influential players on his instrument. His playing in the Basie band was characterized by a relaxed style which contrasted sharply with the more forceful approach of Coleman Hawkins, the dominant tenor sax player of the day. 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. 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. Basie is a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame as well as the Blues Hall of Fame. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Fletcher Henderson's band was playing at the Grand Terrace just before the Basie band arrived there. Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] Jones moved to Alabama, where he learned to play several instruments, including saxophone, piano, and drums. By the time he was ten, he had learned the basics of the trumpet, violin, and drums, and joined the Young Family Band touring with carnivals and playing in regional cities in the Southwest[6][2], In his teens he and his father clashed, and he often left home for long periods. ''When they let you in the door,'' Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic, reported, ''it was like jumping into the center of a whirlwind. [2][3] Nestico joined the Oliver High School beginner orchestra in 1937 as a trombonist. In 1978 she was found dead on a Washington, D.C. sidewalk, [3] [8] [10] after attending a Count Basie concert. The greatest overall compatibility with Leo is Aquarius, Gemini. He was one of the greatest bandleaders of all-time, epitomizing the jazz of south-western America. Page, a bassist, Jimmy Rushing, the blues singer, both of whom would be key members of Mr. Basie's band. Birth and Death Data: Born August 21st, 1904 (Red Bank . Once more details are available, we will update this section. After earning his degree, Nestico then returned to the military, where he arranged music for the United States Air Force Band (19501963), as well as leading the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps dance band, which would later become known as the Airmen of Note. Young is described as playing the clarinet in a "liquid, nervous style. 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. 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). and the bebop revolution of the mid-1940s all played a role in the death of the big-band era. [5] He grew up in a musical family. Weve updated the security on the site. One of the band's most popular arrangements, ''April in Paris,'' was written in 1955 by Wild Bill Davis, a jazz organist who had originally developed it for his own small group. His mother paid 25 cents per piano lesson for him when he was young. [12], In the late 1960s, Sammy worked as an arranger and orchestrator for Capitol Records. Name: Count Basie Birth Year: 1904 Birth date: August 21, 1904 Birth State: New Jersey Birth City: Red Bank Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: One of jazz music's all-time. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), Rihanna and 10 Other Great Pregnant Performances, Burt Bacharachs Legacy: 5 Notable Collaborations, 2023 Grammy Awards: Six Winners Who Made History. Count Basie AKA William Allen Basie Born: 21-Aug - 1904 Birthplace: Red Bank, NJ Died: 26-Apr - 1984 Location of death: Hollywood, FL Cause of death: Cancer - Pancreatic Remains: Buried, Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, NY Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: Black Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Pianist, Jazz Musician 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. Swing-era bandleader noted for his theme songs One OClock Jump from 1937 and April in Paris from 1932. 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. There was a problem getting your location. 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 Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. In the early 1990s after Count Basie's death, leader Frank Foster was auditioning a young drummer for the Basie Band.
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