Count+Basie+(2)

 **William or "Count" Basie ** was born in 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey. He was a pianist and also a bandleader. In his earily childhood, he studied piano with his mother, but he learned the basics of piano with his organ teacher, Fats Waller in Harlem, New York City. Count also played drums in his school band.

He made his first professional premiere as a pianist with vaudeville acts. While on a tour he become stranded in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1928, he joined the Walter Page's Blue Devils. After a year, the band broke up and Bennie Moten's band hired him. He played with them for about 5 years. It was then he got his nickname Count. When Moten died in 1934, Basie formed his own orchestra. It was called the Count Basie orchestra. The theme song, that Basie wrote himself in 1937, was called the "One O'Clock Jump". Count Basie's band was one of the most famous in America. In 1950, when big-bands began to die out, Basie formed a medium sized band. He and his band members recorder with several famous artists.

In 1976, Basie suffered a heart attack, but still continued his career. He began appearing on stage in an electric weelchair. Count Basie died of cancer in 1984 in Hollywood, California. His songs are still remembered today.

Click on the link below to view a list of Count Basie songs, and lyrics. http://music.yahoo.com/Count-Basie/lyrics/260251

Sources: http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ba-Be/Basie-Count.html http://music.yahoo.com/Count-Basie/lyrics/260251