Photo:  Count Basie (Gottlieb 00471) Public Domain 

于4月26日去世的威廉·詹姆斯· “伯爵”贝西（William James "Count" Basie）（1904 –1984）是一名美国爵士钢琴家、风琴家、乐团领导者和作曲家。

贝西的母亲从小教他弹钢琴，贝西在十几岁的时候就开始表演。到16岁时，贝西在派对、度假村等场合演奏爵士钢琴。

1924年，贝西来到美国的爵士乐中心哈莱姆（Harlem），并在这里拓展了他的演艺事业。

1935年，贝西组建了自己的爵士乐队，名为“伯爵贝西管弦乐团”（Count Basie Orchestra）。他领导乐队近五十年，为大乐团之声（the big band sound）带来创新。

作为爵士乐史上最伟大的艺术家之一，乐团领导者和钢琴家“伯爵”贝西是20世纪中期流行音乐的特色 - 大乐团之声的主要设计师。

1958年，贝西成为第一位获得格莱美奖的非洲裔美国人。他录制了超过480张专辑，为世界留下了伟大的音乐礼物。

你听过“伯爵”贝西的歌曲吗？ 更多了解“伯爵”贝西和他的音乐，请见：http://www.thecountbasieorchestra.com/

#AmericanJazz – Count Basie 

William James "Count" Basie (1904 –1984), who died on April 26th, was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. His mother taught him to play the piano when he was young and he started performing in his teens. By 16 years old, he played jazz piano at parties, resorts and other venues. In 1924, he went to Harlem, the American center for jazz, where his performing career expanded.  In 1935, Basie formed his own jazz orchestra called the Count Basie Orchestra. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations for the big band sound. One of jazz music's all-time greats, bandleader and pianist Count Basie was a primary architect of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music. In 1958, Basie became the first African-American to receive a Grammy Award. He left the world the gift of musical greatness recording over 480 albums.  Have you ever listened to a Count Basie song?  To learn more about him and his music, see:  http://www.thecountbasieorchestra.com/