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Count Basie through His Own Eyes

This revealing biography, told in Count Basie鈥檚 own words, uncovers for the first time the private passions and ambitions that inspired the world-famous bandleader and pianist.

This revealing biography, told in Count Basie鈥檚 own words, uncovers for the first time the private passions and ambitions that inspired the world-famous bandleader and pianist.

Until now, little was known about Basie鈥檚 private and family life, but director Jeremy Marre uncovered a treasure-trove of home movies and photo albums that expose Basie鈥檚 remarkable relationship with his wife Catherine, whose pioneering support for African-American causes placed her at the side of Martine Luther King. Through Basie鈥檚 intimate footage and letters - and interviews with friends like Quincy Jones and Annie Ross - we discover the Count鈥檚 protective love for his disabled daughter Diane who 鈥榳as never out of his heart and mind: the hidden core of his creative life鈥�.

Basie鈥檚 musical achievements were remarkable: the first African-American to win a Grammy, he brought the Blues to the big band podium. He was 鈥榯he King of the Swing Kings鈥�. We see rare performances with Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davies Jnr. and many others. But this film digs deeper, uncovering the inner motivation and passions that drove Basie鈥檚 career as he became a unique link between jazz and America鈥檚 turbulent social history.

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 Mar 2021 00:25
大象传媒 Four

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:11

    Count Basie

    Bugle Blues

  • 00:21

    Fats Waller

    A Handful of Keys

  • 00:25

    Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra, Count Basie

    New Vine Street Blues (1989 Remastered)

  • 00:38

    Billie Holiday

    God Bless The Child / Now Baby Or Never

  • 00:39

    Count Basie & His Orchestra, Count Basie

    Li'l Darlin'

  • 00:42

    Count Basie and His Orchestra

    Teddy The Toad

  • 00:51

    Count Basie, Joe Williams

    Every Day I Have The Blues

  • 01:00

    Count Basie and His Orchestra

    I Want A Little Girl (Album Version)

  • 01:03

    Frank Sinatra

    I Only Have Eyes For You

  • 01:03

    Frank Sinatra

    I've Got You Under My Skin

  • 01:09

    Count Basie and His Orchestra

    April In Paris

  • 01:19

    Count Basie

    The Kid From Red Bank

Credits

Count Basie's Spoken Words Clarke Peters
Commentator Dee Askew
Commentator Scotty Barnhart
Commentator Gregg Field
Commentator Will Friedwald
Commentator Gary Giddins
Commentator Bonnie Greer
Producer Jeremy Marre
Producer Peter Worsley
Director Jeremy Marre

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