Count Basie

He was stranded in Kansas City in 1927 with a touring group. He remained there, playing in silent-film theaters. In July 1928, he the Blue Devils which, in addition to Page, included Jimmy Rushing; both later figured prominently in Basie’s own band. Basie left the Blue Devils early in 1929 to play with two lesser-known bands in the area. Later that year, he joined Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra, as did the other key members of the Blue Devils shortly after.

When Moten died suddenly in 1935, Basie left soon thereafter. The same year, with Buster Smith and several other former members of Moten’s orchestra, Basie organized a new, smaller group of nine musicians, which included Jo Jones and later Lester Young, and as the Barons of Rhythm began a long engagement at the Reno Club in Kansas City.

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