[8] He became a member of the Bostonians, led by Art Bronson, and chose tenor saxophone over alto as his primary instrument. His first marriage was to Beatrice Tolliver, in Albuquerque, on 23 February 1930. 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. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. [21][22] Both hold a PhD in Education, according to drummer Roy Haynes, who was interviewed as part of an attempt to create a film biography of Young. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. With Count Basie There are no volunteers for this cemetery. A brother, James, died when William was a young boy. There is a problem with your email/password. [4] In 1939, he wrote his first arrangement. First commercially issued collection of Young as band leader. 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. 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. His father Harvey was a mellophonist and his mother Lillian was a pianist who gave her son his first lessons. He left home permanently in 1932 when he became a member of the Blue Devils led by Walter Page. It continues . 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. While growing up in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, he worked from the age of five to make money for the family. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. [3], For the fictional television character, see, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 08:43, The Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Pete Brown, Jo Jones All Stars at Newport, Mae Barnes, Jo Jones, Buck Clayton, Ray Bryant, The Oscar Peterson Trio with Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge and Jo Jones at Newport, Sonny Stitt Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones, Jazz Icons: Coleman Hawkins-Live in 62 & 64, "Book Review: The Life and Opinions of Papa Jo Jones", "Jo Jones, 73, A Jazz Drummer Influential in Swing Era, Dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jo_Jones&oldid=1141690806, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 08:43. Drag images here or select from your computer for Count Basie memorial. Resend Activation Email. During a radio broadcast of the band's performance, the announcer wanted to give Basie's name some pizazz, keeping in mind the existence of other bandleaders like .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Duke Ellington and Earl Hines. based on information from your browser. [13] Playing on her name, he would call her "Lady Day." William James Basie is part of G.I. He made many studio recordings under Granz's supervision as well, including more trio recordings with Nat King Cole. There was a problem getting your location. Within less than six months, however, Mr. Basie was back at the keyboard. 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. The pianist Count Basie died at the age of 79. cemeteries found in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I sat on the floor watching his feet and using my hands to imitate him. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Young's career after World War II was far more prolific and lucrative than in the pre-war years in terms of recordings made, live performances, and annual income. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Year should not be greater than current year. when asking how much a gig was going to pay.[31]. Young also recorded extensively in the late 1940s for Aladdin Records (1945-1947, where he had made the Cole recordings in 1942) and for Savoy (1944, 1949 and 1950), some sessions of which included Basie on piano. [15] He also worked as an arranger for the 81st Academy Awards, as well as some Grammy Awards. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. In 1979, Jones was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Birmingham, Alabama musical heritage. Charles Mingus dedicated an elegy to Young, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", only a few months after his death. The causes of death rooted in complex mental health and substance abuse issues, such as drug overdoses and suicide, comprise a relatively small portion of deaths, but are increasing faster than most other causes. Early "in person" recordings. 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." Drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra Passed Away, Obituary - YouTube 0:00 / 0:36 Butch Miles Cause of Death? Ronald McFadden, consummate entertainer, tap dancer and musician, died unexpectedly this week, shortly after a performance in downtown 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. 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. As orchestrator, he worked on nearly seventy television programs, including Mission: Impossible,[11] Mannix, M*A*S*H,[13] Charlie's Angels,[14] and The Mod Squad. 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. His alma mater later awarded him with an honorary Doctor of Music degree and the Distinguished Alumni award. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Jones performed regularly in later years at the West End jazz club at 116th and Broadway in New York City. [12] The Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the USAF, sponsor an annual competition, the "Sammy Nestico Award" for composers and arrangers of big band music, named in his honor. [28] Sonny Stitt began to incorporate elements from Lester Young's approach when he made the transition to tenor saxophone. In 2021, Nestico died in Carlsbad, California, at the age of 96. [1] He participated in the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series.[1]. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] Jones moved to Alabama, where he learned to play several instruments, including saxophone, piano, and drums. [1] Jones took a brief break for two years when he was in the military, but he remained with Basie until 1948. The legendary Billie Holiday was a vocalist with Basie for a short stint (193738), although she was unable to record with the band because of her contract with another record label; mostly, vocals were handled by Jimmy Rushing, one of the most renowned blues bawlers. The rhythm unit for the bandpianist Basie, guitarist Freddie Green (who joined the Basie band in 1937 and stayed for 50 years), bassist Walter Page, and drummer Jo Joneswas unique in its lightness, precision, and relaxation, becoming the precursor for modern jazz accompanying styles. When we played pop tunesand, naturally, we had toI wanted those pops to kick! The band broadcast from the Reno Club on an experimental radio station. People who are born with the Sun as the ruling planet are courageous, self-expressive and bold. Despite a brief disbandment at the beginning of the 1950s, the band survived long past the Big Band era itself and the death of Basie in 1984. During the 1960s and '70s, Basie recorded with luminaries like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. (William) Count Basie (1904-1984) was an extremely popular figure in the jazz world for half a century. 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. Count Basie was born on the 21st of August, 1904. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Discography. He served one traumatic year in a detention barracks[15] and was dishonorably discharged in late 1945. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. (Fans distinguish the two major eras in Basie bands as the Old Testament and New Testament.) The Basie orchestra of the 1950s was a slick, professional unit that was expert at sight reading and demanding arrangements. Basie studied music with his mother and was later influenced by the Harlem pianists James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, receiving . Stranded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1927, Basie remained there and eventually (in 1935) assumed the leadership of a nine-piece band composed of former members of the Walter Page and Bennie Moten orchestras. 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". The Black Music Association honored Mr. Basie in 1982 with a gala at Radio City Music Hall. 1956 was a relatively good year for Lester Young, including a tour of Europe with Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Quartet and a successful residency at Olivia Davis' Patio Lounge in Washington, DC, with the Bill Potts Trio. Generation. Causes of deaths for people who were 70 years and older. ). Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he is sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones.