Count Basie and his orchestraIn the 1930s, a new era was dawning in jazz. The swing era, otherwise known as the big band era. One of the most important and influential leaders of this era was William Basie, otherwise known as The Count, or Count Basie. Basie was one of many leaders of this era, known for his leadership skills as a bandleader and crafty pianist. Basie was known for having one of the best combo sections or rhythm sections around. His rhythm section featured some of the best such as Jo Jones, Walter Page, Freddie Green and Buddy Rich, while Basie accompanied him on piano. Basie and his orchestra still perform today, even after Basie's passing, reliving the glory days when singers and crooners performed with him, such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Basie's orchestra has survived many troubling times throughout the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s and into the present day. Today. Whether it be its roots when it was known as The Barons of Rhythm or the New York era when famous singers such as Billie Holiday performed with the group. The orchestra has always survived even war, such as World War II or the war of band members leaving. The Count Basie Orchestra has always survived and will always survive. Even more so, they will always be known as one of the greatest and most influential orchestras of the swing or big band era. Count Basie, or William Basie, was born August 21, 1904 in Red Banks, New Jersey. William grew up with an influential musical background. At a young age, Basie learned to play the piano, while his mother would sit and teach him. While Basie had a natural talent for the piano, his first preference was the drums. After being discouraged however at not making it to middle of paper......ueen Ella Fitzgerald. This was one of Basie's most memorable moments, although an article was written about it by Metronome Magazine. Metronome would go on to say: "Throughout the fight, which never diminished in its intensity during the entire melee, Chick took the aggressiveness, the Count playing the game easily and, on the whole, more scientifically and musical. Undismayed by Chick's energetic drumbeats, which sent the audience into shouts of encouragement and appreciation and occasional drops of sweat falling from Chick's forehead onto the brass cymbals, Count maintained an attitude balance and assurance. He constantly parried Chick's thunderous noses with tantalizing runs and arpeggios that increasingly teased his opponent's strength. It was one of the biggest brands in Basie history. After this, he would produce their theme, One O'clock Jump..