William “Count” Basie was a jazz pianist and bandleader who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music for over 50 years. He was born in New Jersey in 1904 and began playing the piano at a young age. He became known for his signature style of big band jazz, which was marked by a tight, driving rhythm section and precise horn arrangements. He also had a great ability to improvise and create exciting, swinging solos. Basie’s bands performed for years, both in the United States and abroad, and he won nine Grammy Awards in his lifetime. Basie’s music continues to be celebrated to this day, and he is remembered as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time.
| Name | Count Basie |
| DOB | August 21,1904 |
| Genre | Big Band, Swing, Jazz |
| Instruments | Piano, Organ |
| Notable Works | One O’Clock Jump, April in Paris, Shiny Stockings |
| Awards | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of Arts |
10 Best Count Basie Quotes
1.
“If you don’t do it right, you don’t get a second chance.”
– Count Basie, from The Guardian
2.
“If you can’t make it better, don’t mess with it.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz Interviews
3.
“I’ve never been one to sit back and rest on my laurels. I’m always trying to do something new and different.”
– Count Basie, from Youtube
4.
“I’m trying to find a way to make the music better than it was before.”
– Count Basie, from The Guardian
5.
“It’s always been about making the music the best it can be.”
– Count Basie, from HuffPost
6.
“I’m always looking for a way to get the most out of the music.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz History Database
7.
“I’m always trying to make the music more exciting and swinging.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz Interviews
8.
“I’m always striving to make the music better.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz in America
9.
“I’m always looking for ways to make the music more interesting.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
10.
“I’m always on the lookout for something new and different.”
– Count Basie, from Youtube
6 Count Basie Quotes About Benny Goodman
“Benny was the first one to put a band together with a black and a white section.”
– Count Basie, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman was a wonderful guy. He came and got us. He was the first white leader who had the courage to hire black musicians.”
– Count Basie, from YouTube
“We used to play Benny Goodman arrangements. Benny Goodman was a great, great fan of mine.”
– Count Basie, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman was the man that made it possible for black and white to play together, and we must never forget that, because it was a great contribution.”
– Count Basie, from YouTube
“Benny Goodman was the first white leader to hire black musicians.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz Corner
“He [Benny Goodman] made a great contribution to the music. He was the first one to put a band together with a black and a white section.”
– Count Basie, from The Guardian
7 Inspirational Count Basie Quotes
“If you don’t have a good time, you’re not doing it right.”
– Count Basie, from Grammy.com
“It’s a great feeling when somebody appreciates what you do.”
– Count Basie, from Grammy.com
“Once you get the groove, you got it, you don’t ever lose it.”
– Count Basie, from Grammy.com
“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.”
– Count Basie, from The Vintage News
“Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.”
– Count Basie, from The Vintage News
“If you don’t have a good time, you’re not doing it right.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“When you’re performing, you’re in a different zone. You’re in a zone where you forget everything else and concentrate on what you’re doing.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
5 Famous Count Basie Quotes
“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“I’m still learning, and I’m trying to play better; that’s why I’m here.”
– Count Basie, from BrainyQuote
“I know one thing, if I stop learning, I’m dead.”
– Count Basie, from BrainyQuote
“I don’t think I’ve ever done anything without a purpose.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“Jazz is a language, it’s a way of expressing yourself with music”
– Count Basie, from GoodReads
6 Count Basie Quotes About Love
“Love is a very important thing. That is the main ingredient in any kind of relationship. We must have love, understanding, and respect for each other.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“I think that the love of a person—love the way it should be—is the most important thing in life. That’s the thing that makes you feel secure. You can’t buy that.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“Love is the key to happiness, and I think that’s what we all want most in life-to be happy.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“Love is a wonderful thing, and I think that it is essential to life. It’s really what we all strive for, and I think that the more love we have in our lives, the better it is.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“Love is a very powerful emotion and it’s something that needs to be nurtured and developed.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
“Love is the most important thing in life, and it’s something that we should all strive to have more of in our lives.”
– Count Basie, from All About Jazz
6 Count Basie Quotes About Life
“Life is like a trumpet – if you don’t put anything into it, you don’t get anything out.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz in America
“Life is a song, so sing it.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz in America
“Life has its ups and downs, but you’ve got to keep going.”
– Count Basie, from Union Eagle
“Life is too short to do something you don’t like.”
– Count Basie, from Union Eagle
“Life is too short to worry about things you don’t think are right.”
– Count Basie, from Union Eagle
“Life is too short to be playing something you don’t like.”
– Count Basie, from Jazz in America
6 Quotes About Count Basie
“Count Basie was one of the most important bandleaders in jazz history.”
– All About Jazz, from All About Jazz
“Basie’s flexible style was a major influence on big band jazz in the 1930s and 1940s.”
– Encyclopedia Britannica, from Encyclopedia Britannica
“Basie’s bands were considered some of the most swinging, most creative groups of the swing era.”
– Jazz.com, from Jazz.com
“Basie’s bands were renowned for their tight sound, swinging style and unique approach to arrangements.”
– The Guardian, from The Guardian
“Basie was an innovative and influential force in the development of big band jazz.”
– Jazzinphoto, from Jazzinphoto
“Basie was known for his sophisticated and innovative arrangements, solid musicianship and bluesy sound.”
– NPR, from NPR
Interview with Count Basie
Frequently Asked Questions About Count Basie
1. What is Count Basie best known for?
Count Basie is an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader who was one of the most influential figures in jazz music. He is best known for his big band, which was among the first to feature soloists and for its tight, hard-swinging arrangements. His career spanned over 50 years and included collaborations with many of the leading jazz musicians of his time.
- Leading a big band that featured soloists
- Creating hard-swinging arrangements
- Collaborating with leading jazz musicians
- Playing jazz piano and organ
- Composing and arranging music
- Being one of the most influential figures in jazz music
2. How did Count Basie influence the jazz music scene?
Count Basie’s innovative approach to jazz music had a profound influence on the jazz scene. He is credited with helping to create a new form of jazz music, known as the “Kansas City Style.” This style was characterized by a hard-driving rhythm section and a call-and-response style between instruments. Basie’s influence was also seen in his use of licks, riffs, and solos to create a more dynamic sound.
Basie was also a key innovator in the development of the big band sound, bringing together a large ensemble of musicians to create a powerful sound. He is known for his emphasis on swing, which is a type of jazz rhythm that combines a regular 4/4 beat with syncopated accents. This style of swing was widely popular and was a major influence on the development of jazz music.
Basie also was an early adopter of the electric guitar and electric bass, bringing a new level of energy and sound to his recordings. This use of electric instruments was a major influence on the development of the jazz-rock fusion genre.
Basie was also an early advocate for racial integration in the music industry. He famously refused to perform in clubs or venues that did not allow for integrated audiences and band members, and was a major influence in the fight for racial equality in the music industry.
Finally, Basie’s influence was felt in his own compositions and recordings. He was a prolific composer and arranger, with many of his works being covered by other musicians and bands. His recordings were also widely influential, with many of his songs becoming jazz standards that are still performed today.
3. What were some of Count Basie’s most popular songs?
Count Basie was a jazz pianist and composer who had a long and successful career in the music industry. His most popular songs include some of the most recognizable jazz standards, such as:
- Jumpin’ at the Woodside
- One O’Clock Jump
- April In Paris
- Shiny Stockings
- Every Day (I Have the Blues)
- Moten Swing
- Lil Darlin
- Sent For You Yesterday
- Corner Pocket
- Kansas City
These songs have been covered and performed by jazz musicians all over the world, and they continue to be some of the most popular tunes in the genre. In his own words, Count Basie said, “It’s the notes you don’t play that really count.”
4. What was the inspiration behind Count Basie’s famous quotes?
Count Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader whose career spanned across seven decades. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential figures in jazz music. Throughout his career, Basie wrote and said many inspiring things, from life advice to observations on the music business, which have become some of his most memorable quotes.
- Basie’s life experiences and observations of the music industry often served as the source of his quotes. He was able to draw from his own experiences to create his own inspiring words of wisdom.
- Basie was also heavily influenced by the great African American thinkers of the day, including W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Marcus Garvey. Their ideas of justice, equality, and freedom inspired Basie to speak out against inequality and racism.
- Basie was a great storyteller, so many of his quotes were based on his own stories. He was famous for his witty and humorous anecdotes, which were often the source of some of his most memorable quotes.
- Basie used the quotes to motivate and encourage his audiences, as well as to remind them to stay positive and keep going even when times were tough. His words of wisdom often served as an inspiration for those who listened to his music.
Above all, Count Basie’s quotes were a reflection of his life experiences, his passion for music, and his commitment to justice and equality. He was a powerful voice for his generation and his words still inspire people today.
5. What is the legacy of Count Basie?
Count Basie was a jazz pianist and bandleader who had a profound influence on the genre and the musical world at large. His legacy includes a number of awards, honorary titles, and a lasting influence on jazz music, including:
- He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1965 and was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 1986.
- He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987.
- He was posthumously inducted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in 2000.
- His music is still performed and recorded by some of the biggest names in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.
- He is often referred to as the “King of Swing” and his compositions have been covered by a wide range of artists in various genres, including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, and Frank Sinatra.
- He was a major influence on the development of big band jazz, swing, and bebop.
Count Basie was a master of the jazz piano, but his influence on the genre and the world at large will never be forgotten. His legacy continues to shape the music of today, and his compositions will live on for generations to come.
Conclusion
Count Basie was a legendary jazz pianist, bandleader and composer whose music changed the course of jazz history. His unique style, which blended elements of blues, swing, and modern jazz, was a major influence on the development of jazz music during the mid-20th century. Count Basie’s numerous awards and accolades, including his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, are a testament to his immense talent and lasting impact on the music world. His inspirational quotes continue to inspire musicians and fans alike. Count Basie’s music and words will continue to influence and inspire generations to come.
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