Count Basie
Acting • Born 1904-08-21 – Died 1984-04-26
Biography
William James "Count" Basie (/ˈbeɪsi/; 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, his minimalist piano style, 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, Dennis Rowland, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams. As a composer, Basie is known for writing such jazz standards as "Blue and Sentimental", "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "One O'Clock Jump". Description above from the Wikipedia article Count Basie, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
49 credits
Cinderfella
Movie • 1960
Count Basie
The Last Of The Blue Devils - The Kansas City Jazz Story
Movie • 1979
Self
New York in the Fifties
Movie • 2001
Self
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
Movie • 2006
Himself
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
Movie • 2011
Self
'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
Movie • 1951
Rat Pack
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage)
Blazing Saddles
Movie • 1974
Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Movie • 2022
Self (voice) (archive sound)
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
Movie • 1981
Self
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
Movie • 1979
Sself (Piano, Conductor)
The Harlem Renaissance
Movie • 2004
Self (archive footage)
Stage Door Canteen
Movie • 1943
Count Basie
Ebony Parade
Movie
(archive footage)
Judy Garland Duets
Movie • 2005
Self (archive footage)
Improvisation
Movie • 2004
Self
Air Mail Special
Movie • 1941
Self
Take Me Back, Baby
Movie • 1941
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
Movie • 1993
Self (archive footage)
Rhythm and Blues Revue
Movie • 1955
Self
Crazy House
Movie • 1943
Count Basie
Top Man
Movie • 1943
Orchestra Leader
Policy Man
Movie • 1938
Count Basie
Music Inn
Movie • 2007
Himself (archive footage)
Basie Boogie
Movie • 1950
Sid & Judy
Movie • 2019
Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Movie • 1965
Self
Piano Blues
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
Movie • 2020
Billie
Movie • 2020
self
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
Movie • 1981
Self
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage)
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
Movie • 2014
Self (archive footage)
Jamboree!
Movie • 1957
Count Basie
Made in Paris
Movie • 1966
Count Basie
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
Cavalcade of Bands
TV • 1950
The Hollywood Palace
TV • 1964
Self - Pianist
The Big Show
TV • 1980
Self
ABC Stage 67
TV • 1966
Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
TV • 1956
Self
The Steve Allen Show
TV • 1956
Self - Conductor
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV • 1978
Self
The Judy Garland Show
TV • 1963
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Steve Allen Show
TV • 1956
Self - Pianist
The Steve Allen Show
TV • 1956
Self - Bandleader