Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career. Discouraged by the obvious talents of Sonny Greer, who also lived in Red Bank and became Duke Ellington's drummer in 1919, Basie switched to piano exclusively at age 15. Though a natural at the piano, Basie preferred drums. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. He finished junior high school but spent much of his time at the Palace Theater in Red Bank, where doing occasional chores gained him free admission to performances. The best student in school, Basie dreamed of a traveling life, inspired by touring carnivals which came to town. She paid 25 cents a lesson for Count Basie's piano instruction. She took in laundry and baked cakes for sale for a living. His father played the mellophone, and his mother played the piano in fact, she gave Basie his first piano lessons. Both of his parents had some type of musical background. After automobiles replaced horses, his father became a groundskeeper and handyman for several wealthy families in the area. His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. William Basie was born to Lillian and Harvey Lee Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey.
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