Document Signed

1944. BASIE, William "Count". Document Signed. A three-page typed agreement, dated December 6, 1944, between Basie and Columbia Records president Edward "Ted" Wallerstein, in which Basie agrees to provide his orchestra for making an album, for the sum of $400 for each record side plus royalties. Signed on the last page by Basie and Wallerstein. Also initialed by Wallerstein and Basie ten times along the margins. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904, Count Basie began his career playing piano on the black theater and vaudeville circuit. He inherited the leadership of the Bennie Moten band after Moten was killed in a car accident in 1935. He later formed a second jazz and blues band in 1952. Count Basie died on April 24, 1984 of cancer. The former Carleton Theater in Red Bank has been renamed The Count Basie Theater in his honor and this is a nice, early example of his signature. $350.00.