Count Basie

Count Basie

William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984^[1]) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. His mother first taught him piano and he started performing in his teens. Dropping out of school, he learned to operate lights for vaudeville and improvised to accompany silent films at a local theater in his town of Red Bank, New Jersey. By 16, he increasingly played jazz piano at parties, resorts and other venues. In 1924, he went to Harlem, where his performing career expanded; he toured with groups to the major jazz cities of Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City. In 1929 he joinedBennie Moten's band in Kansas City, and played with them for years, until Moten's death in 1935.

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie

Count Basie