Jazz rose to its crescendo, both in popularity and innovation, thanks to the impact of legends like Benny Goodman, William James ‘Count’ Basie, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday, Helen Forrest, and Frank Sinatra. And among the giants of music, the name of William James ‘Count’ Basie needs special mention. He is credited with shaping the Big Band music, which became the popular music of the early and mid twentieth century, especially in the USA and parts of Europe.
The Early Years
Born on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey, William James Basie went onto become a jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and organist of acclaim. He received his elementary lessons in music from his pianist mother, Lillian Basie. Studies didn’t interest him much and after finishing high school, he started doing sundry chores at the Palace Theater in his town. He could gain free admission to the performances at the theater wherein he learnt the nuances of music and started using them in the acts. Thereafter, he moved to New York and came under the influence of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller and learnt to play the organ.
During the 1920’s, William visited Harlem, the supposed centre of Jazz and met Sonny Greer, the drummer for Duke Ellington’s early band. William James Basie joined the famous big band, Blue Devils that had Jimmy Rushing as a vocalist. In Kansas City, Basie was part of a band helmed by Bennie Moten. After the demise of Moten, Basie created a band called the Barons of Rhythm along with some of the musicians from Bennie Moten’s band. The new band had the vocalist Jimmy Rushing and saxophonist Lester Young, and started performing at the Reno Club in Kansas City.
How William acquired the name ‘Count’?
Interestingly, the name ‘Count’ was given by a radio broadcaster who wanted to introduce Basie to the listeners with some panache. This was inspite of the presence of cult bandleaders like Duke Ellington and Earl Hines. As he was introducing the band members to his audience, he referred to the pianist Basie as ‘Count’ Basie little knowing the name will be stuck with Basie forever.
Joining the Big League
The band ‘Barons of Rhythm’ was able to build a niche among its audience by improvising jazz and creating a collection of Big band and Swing music. The band’s musical exploits reached the famed radio producer, John Hammond who helped the band to get better slots to perform. The band came out with hits such as ‘One O’ Clock Jump’ and ‘Jumpin’ at the Woodside’ among others, which captivated audiences during the 1930’s and 1940’s. In fact, the songs were instrumental in defining the Big Band sound of the era. The band became renowned for its soloists and rhythm players including Basie’s role as the pianist in the African American jazz groups.
The Changing Times
The fifties saw a change in fortune for the band due to the advent of new music genres and shifting customers preferences for them. The changing landscape of music saw William Count Basie scaling down the size of his band. However, good days returned soon as he recorded hit songs with vocalist Joe Williams and acquired acclaim at the international level. In the year 1956, the band played the eponymous music in the album ‘April in Paris,’ which became its signature tune.
Awards and Recognition
William James Count Basie recorded songs with the legends who were ruling the roost in 1960’s and 70’s such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Davis Junior, and Jackie Wilson. During his career, he won nine Grammy awards and has been the first African American to receive one in 1958.
Conclusion
Even though William James ‘Count’ Basie succumbed to cancer on April 26, 1984, he created for posterity a rich legacy of Big Band music through his albums. In fact, the present day listeners and aficionados of music can hear his masterful creations and relive the times thanks to the Swing and Big Band preservation society in USA.