The much anticipated Eagle Rock Productions feature film about Count Basie will air on BBC4 next Friday, 23 October at 9pm. We hope you join us in adding Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes to your Black History Month watch-list.
This revealing biography, told in Count Basie’s own words, uncovers for the first time the private passions and ambitions that inspired the world-famous bandleader and pianist.
Until now, little was known about Basie’s private and family life, but director Jeremy Marre uncovered a treasure-trove of home movies and photo albums that expose Basie’s remarkable relationship with his wife Catherine, whose pioneering support for African-American causes placed her at the side of Martine Luther King.
Basie’s musical achievements were remarkable: the first African-American to win a Grammy, he brought the Blues to the big band podium. He was ‘the King of the Swing Kings’. We see rare performances with Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davies Jnr. and many others. But this film digs deeper, uncovering the inner motivation and passions that drove Basie’s career as he became a unique link between jazz mand America’s turbulent social history.
You can read more about the biographical film and watch the trailer here.
Director & Producer: Jeremy Marre
Director of Photography: Ian Watts
Film Editor: Sheryl Sandler
Count Basie’s words: spoken by Clarke Peters
Production Manager: Melissa Morton Hicks
Supervising Producer: Peter Worsley
Executive Producers: Geoff Kempin and Terry Shand
In memory of Jeremy Marre 1943 – 2020
