KFJMZ EX LFJK….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S ANSWER:
ANSWER: LEARN TO DEAL WITH THE VALLEYS, AND THE HILLS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. —COUNT BASIE
🎹 COUNT BASIE 🎷
AUGUST 21, 1904 – APRIL 26, 1984 • AGED 79 • AMERICAN JAZZ PIANIST, COMPOSER & BANDLEADER
🎹 A NEW JERSEY BOY WITH A MUSICAL EAR
William James Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1904 and received his first piano lessons from his mother. As a teenager, he worked around local theaters and learned to accompany silent movies on the piano.
🎼 LEARNING FROM FATS WALLER
Basie moved to New York during the 1920s, where he encountered Harlem’s lively jazz scene. Pianist Fats Waller helped him learn the organ, while the city’s talented musicians influenced his developing style.
🎷 THE BAND THAT PUT KANSAS CITY ON THE MAP
After performing with Bennie Moten’s orchestra, Basie formed his own band in Kansas City in 1935. Its radio broadcasts attracted producer John Hammond, helping the group reach national audiences and become a major force in swing music.
⏰ THE SONG THAT MADE EVERYONE SWING
Basie’s 1937 recording of One O’Clock Jump became his orchestra’s signature tune. With its driving rhythm and memorable instrumental solos, the piece helped define the energetic Kansas City jazz sound.
🏆 MAKING HISTORY AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS
At the first Grammy Awards in 1959, Basie became the first African American man to win a Grammy, receiving two awards for recordings released in 1958. His career eventually brought him nine competitive Grammy Awards and recognition as an NEA Jazz Master in 1983.
🌟 A BIG BAND WITH BIG-NAME FRIENDS
Basie collaborated with celebrated performers including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Joe Williams. His orchestra became famous for its precise rhythms and relaxed swing, while his hometown of Red Bank honors him with the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
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