Arts & Entertainment | Red Bank (1904-1984)

William “Count” Basie was born in Red Bank in 1904, he is one of the most revered and popular jazz bandleaders of all time. The Count Basie Orchestra entertained audiences for almost a half century and included jazz legends such as Lester Young, Joe Williams, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett. As Basie explained, he became the Count because there already was a Duke. His recordings earned him nine Grammy Awards plus such honors as the Kennedy Center Award, Grammy Lifetime achievement Award, NEA Jazz Masters Award, Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame and now the New Jersey Hall of Fame.