And, well of course, Count Basie, and I think all of the black bands of the late thirties and early forties, bands with real players. They had an influence on everybody, not just drummers.
Quotes about basie (8 Quotes)
Contrary to several conflicting stories, I got the name Count right in Kansas City in 1936 while at the Reno Club. I was known as Bill Basie at that time. One night, while we were broadcasting, the announcer called me to the microphone for those usual few words of introduction. He commented that Bill Basie was a rather ordinary name, and further that there were a couple of well-known bandleaders named Earl Hines and Duke Ellington. Then he said, Bill, I think I'll call you Count Basie from now on. Is that all right with you' I thought he was kidding, shrugged my shoulders and replied, OK.'
I'm from Houston, I grew up in church, I've been singing that way since I was a boy. Kevin is from the blues capital of the world, Kansas City. We can't do a Count Basie tribute without that. You'll hear the South in anything we do.
More than anybody else I'd like to thank Count Basie for teaching me how to perform.
We play the Basie stuff, the old spirituals, in big-band style. We do gospel and add a few grooves here and there to make it fresh. To me, the perfect concert would be where 13-year-olds and 75-year-olds are dancing to the same song.
Strangely enough, in movie writing I've been more influenced by big bands than by any other film composer. The big bands of the 'forties and then the carry-over into the modern jazz field - Basie, Ellington, all the way up to Mulligan - these are my influences rather than, say, Franz Waxman or Tiomkin or anyone like that. I don't think in their terms.
I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, 'Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here.'
There were huge big bands like Count Basie, and I used to go from the theatre to Birdland, and they all knew me. I loved the big band sound.