William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904– April 26, 1984) was a jazz pianist,… Read Full Bio ↴William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904– April 26, 1984) was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader.
As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title "Splanky" is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.
As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and, of course, Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie's organization.
In addition to Basie, the swinging "All American Rhythm Section" of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax), Jack Washington (alto & baritone sax), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Buck Clayton (trumpet), Thad Jones (trumpet), Snooky Young (trumpet), Benny Morton (trombone), Benny Powell (trombone), and Dicky Wells (trombone).
Basie also collaborated with artists such as Zoot Sims and Oscar Peterson, and recorded with ensembles large and small, including the Count Basie Trio, the Count Basie Sextet, and the Kansas City Seven. Notable arrangers included Eddie Durham (who helped shape the Basie Orchestra's sound) and Neal Hefti.
As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title "Splanky" is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.
As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and, of course, Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie's organization.
In addition to Basie, the swinging "All American Rhythm Section" of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax), Jack Washington (alto & baritone sax), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Buck Clayton (trumpet), Thad Jones (trumpet), Snooky Young (trumpet), Benny Morton (trombone), Benny Powell (trombone), and Dicky Wells (trombone).
Basie also collaborated with artists such as Zoot Sims and Oscar Peterson, and recorded with ensembles large and small, including the Count Basie Trio, the Count Basie Sextet, and the Kansas City Seven. Notable arrangers included Eddie Durham (who helped shape the Basie Orchestra's sound) and Neal Hefti.
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Eight Classic Albums
Count Basie Lyrics
5 O'Clock in the Morning Five o'clock in the morning And there is no one on…
Ain't No Use Ain't no use, baby I'm leaving the scene Ain't no use, bab…
Anything Goes Times have changed And we've often rewound the clock Since…
Are You Havin' Any Fun Hey fellow with a million smackers And nervous indigestion R…
Cherry Red Run here, pretty mama Sit down on your daddy's knee So I…
Chicago Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town Chicago, Chicago, I'll …
Don't Cry Baby Baby, don't be mad at me! If I made you cry,…
Drifting Well I'm drifting and drifting, Like a ship out on the…
Everyday I Have the Blues Everyday Everyday I have the blues Everyday Everyday I have …
Fascinating Rhythm Got a little rhythm, a rhythm, a rhythm That pit-a-pats…
Firefly I call her Firerefly 'Cause, oh, my She radiates moon glow W…
Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You Love makes me treat you the way that I do Gee,…
Going to Chicago Going to Chicago Sorry, I can't take you Going to Chicago …
Good Mornin' Blues [Chorus] Good mornin' blues, blues How do ya do? Good mornin…
Growing Pains One day your mama drops the hem of your skirt Next…
I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans I guess I'll have to change my plan I should have…
I Want a Little Girl I want a little girl, call my own. She must be…
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face I've grown accustomed to her face She almost makes the day…
It's A Low Down Dirty Shame It's great to be rich and a doggone shame to…
Jeepers Creepers Jee-pers, cree-pers, where'd get those pee-pers? Jee-pers, …
Just A Dream Just a dream, just a dream All our plans and our…
Just In Time Just in time, I found you just in time Before you…
Life Is a Song Life is a song, let's sing it together Let's take our…
Lost In The Stars Before Lord God made the sea and the land, He…
Lullaby of Broadway Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Ol' man river L' man river, that ol' man river He must know somethin'…
One O'Clock Jump Amapola My pretty little poppy You're like that lovely flowe…
Pennies From Heaven Every time it rains It rains pennies from heaven Don't you k…
Poor Little Rich Girl Poor little rich girl, You're a bewitched girl, Better take …
Shake, Rattle and Roll Get out in that kitchen and rattle those pots and…
Stormy Monday Blues You were the sunshine, baby, whenever you smiled But I call…
Taking A Chance On Love Here I go again I hear those trumpets blow again All aglow…
There Will Never Be Another You This is our last dance together Tonight soon will be long…
When I Fall In Love When I fall in love it will be forever Or I'll…
With Plenty of Money and You Well, baby, what I couldn't do With plenty of money and…
Without A Song Without a song the day would never end Without a song…