Count Basie
Background information
Birth name	William James Basie
Born	(1904-08-21)August 21, 1904 Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	April 26, 1984(1984-04-26) (aged 79) Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Swing, Big band, Piano blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, Bandleader, Composer
Instruments	Piano, Organ
Years active	1924–1984

William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. He was one of the most important jazz bandleaders of his time. He led his popular Count Basie Orchestra for almost 50 years. Many important musicians came to became popular and successful with his help, like tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison and singers Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams. Basie's famous songs were "One O'Clock Jump" and "April In Paris".