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Count Basie

William James "Count" Basie (; 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, 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, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 21, 1904 (Red Bank), Died April 26, 1984 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1968

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, leader, composer, songwriter, arranger, organ, vocalist

Notes: Also known as William Basie.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 151-175 of 178 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 89018 August 1955 King Porter stomp-2 Benny Goodman and his Orchestra arranger  
Decca 89027 August 1955 One o'clock jump-2 Benny Goodman and his Orchestra arranger  
Decca 89035 August 1955 Sometimes I'm happy-2 Benny Goodman and his Orchestra arranger  
Decca 119508 8/16/1967 Green onions Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14618 8/16/1967 Goin' out of my head Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14619 8/16/1967 Hang on sloopy Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14620 8/16/1967 Green onions Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, organ  
Decca L 14621 8/16/1967 Knock on wood Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14622 8/15/1967 Bright lights, big city Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14623 8/15/1967 Mercy, mercy, mercy Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14624 8/15/1967 Don't let the sun catch you crying-1 Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, organ  
Decca L 14625 8/15/1967 Ain't too proud to beg Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14626 8/17/1967 Let the good times roll Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14627 8/17/1967 Reach out, I'll be there Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14628 8/17/1967 In the heat of the night Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14629 8/17/1967 Memphis, Tennessee Count Basie Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14785 1/4/1968 I was made to love her (the way I love you) Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14786 1/3/1968 Respect Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14787 1/4/1968 I never loved a woman (The way I love you) Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14788 1/3/1968 Chain gang Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14789 1/3/1968 Uptight (Everything's alright) Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14790 1/3/1968 Ode to Billy Joe Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14791 1/3/1968 My girl Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14792 1/3/1968 For your precious love Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca L 14793 1/3/1968 (I can't get no) Satisfaction Count Basie instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 151-175 of 178 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Basie, Count," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103042.

Basie, Count. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103042.

"Basie, Count." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103042

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