Count Basie.

Born William James Basie on August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey, Basie grew up in a musically inclined family. He began his career as an accompanist for vaudeville acts, learning the piano.

His big break came when he joined the Bennie Moten orchestra in Kansas City, a move that set the stage for his own bandleading career.

After moving to New York in 1936, Count Basie and his orchestra became a sensation, performing at venues and on radio. His 1937 composition One O’Clock Jump became a signature hit, showcasing the band’s tight swing and soloists like Lester Young.

Basie’s collaboration with vocalist James Rushing produced classics like Good Morning Blues. In 1954, he toured Europe, broadening his international audience. He earned induction into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in 1958 and multiple Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Count Basie married Catherine Morgan, and they remained together until his death. In his later years, he resided in Hollywood, Florida. He died of pancreatic cancer on April 26, 1984 at the age of 79.

Count Basie mentored numerous musicians, including Lester Young, and his compositions like One O’Clock Jump and Jumpin’ at the Woodside remain jazz standards.

Posthumously, the Carlton Theater in his hometown of Red Bank was renamed the Count Basie Theatre in 1984. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2010, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is remembered as a leading bandleader of the swing era.