The Basie Orchestra is one of the most thriving big bands in history With 17 Grammy awards, our musicians have grown up with the Kansas City Swing style of Count Basie and add their own voice to the band. With 19 performers, 17 sidemen, 1 vocalist, and 1 bandleader, we've become the premier jazz band. Check out the Kansas City style swing for yourself. Our Orchestra celebrates the big band experience through the completely original and identifiable Count Basie repertoire. Come and experience our musical heritage. We will be releasing our latest recording in the next few months, be on the look out for new album wherever the Count Basie Orchestra performs.  You can then say, " I came back to Basie.  The real Basie! Not a counterfeit....

 

WILLIAM H. “BILL” HUGHES - BIOGRAPHY  

Bill Hughes, or “Mr. B” as he’s affectionately called by the “younger members”, joined the Count Basie Orchestra in September, 1953 on a recommendation by the legendary saxophonist/flautist Frank Wess.  A 1952 product of Howard University School of Pharmacy and self-taught trombonist, Bill had previously performed with Frank in variously sized groups and in a house band led by Frank at the world famous Howard Theater in Washington , DC .  It was at that same time Bill was invited to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra but chose Basie where he would be more comfortable with friends like Frank, Eddie Jones and Benny Powell.

Bill played the tenor trombone in a three-man section, which included Henry Coker and Benny.  This section was at one time acclaimed as the best trombone section in jazz and their names appeared in several polls then popular in jazz magazines.  During this period Bill traveled the world with Basie, including the very first trip to Europe for the orchestra.  It was also during this time period Basie was to record several of his timeless hits including “Shiny Stockings”, “Corner Pocket” and the famous rendition of the classic “April In Paris ”.

With the Count and even after his demise, Bill has played at every major jazz festival in the world including The Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreaux and Berne festivals of Switzerland, Jazz and Heritage Festival of New Orleans, Montreal and Toronto Jazz Festivals and many other festivals, concert halls, jazz clubs and the like in Germany, Australia, the Far East, South America, the Caribbean and, of course the United States .

In addition to the numerous recordings with Count Basie and The Count Basie Orchestra; including 15 of the 18 Grammy winning recordings, Bill has recorded with such luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett, Billy Eckstine, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Nat “King” Cole, Rosemary Clooney, and has performed in concert with all of the above.  Bill also performed in a solo context with other greats such as Osie Johnson, Kenny Clark and Tee Carson.

Bill has appeared with the Count Basie Orchestra in two separate Royal Command performances for the Queen of England, one performance for Prince Albert of Monaco and one performance for the King of Thailand .

He also appeared in two movies with The Count, “Cinderfella” with Jerry Lewis, “Sex And The Single Girl” with Henry Fonda and Lauren Bacall and the biography “Last of the Blue Devils”.

From September 1953 until September of 1957 Bill performed continuously with The Count Basie Orchestra.  He took a 6 year break from touring to help raise his family and returned to the road in July 1963 where he has since remained.  He has been married to his wife Dolores for 51 years and currently resides in Staten Island , NY .  They have three children; David, Stephen and Gwendolyn, six grand children and one great grandchild.  

Return to Artist Roster