179:, is shrouded in some ambiguity regarding its exact timeline. According to Count Basie's autobiography, the couple eloped in late summer of 1942, while contemporaneous newspapers asserted their elopement occurred in January 1943. In early 1943, Count Basie claimed that the couple had been recently engaged, but not yet married. The marriage license for the couple held at the Washington State archives in Kings County is dated July 13, 1950.
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186:. The couple was encouraged to place their daughter in an institution, but they refused. They raised Diane at their home with the assistance of a personal nurse named Deedee. Due to her daughter's health struggles, Catherine became an advocate for children with developmental disabilities and was recognized for her efforts by various organizations such as
144:
in New York, and a fan dancer at Club Harlem. Catherine was a featured dancer in short films, “soundies,” which were produced during the early 1940s. She is billed under her stage name, Princess Aloha. Princess Aloha is the featured act with Andy Iona and His
Orchestra in the 1941 soundie
249:
In 1953, Catherine was traveling in Ohio with her young child and maid and was denied entrance to a local restaurant. The restaurant claimed it could not serve her because it was closed, but
Catherine observed other patrons entering the establishment. Catherine contacted Barbee William Durham,
127:
She was a champion backstroke swimmer in high school and an
Olympic hopeful. Unable to adequately train for the 1936 Olympics due to a lack of financial support, Catherine ended her athletic career and began pursuing dancing. At 16 years old she joined the Black vaudeville quartet, the
217:
Catherine was advocate for civil rights. She was an honorary member of Lambda Kappa Mu, a national sorority of
African American business and professional women established in 1937. She helped raise money for civil rights organizations such as the
145:“Hilo Hattie.” The film was produced by Sam Coslow and directed by Josef Berne. She also starred as Princess Aloha with Charles Dorn in “My Little Grass Shack” in 1942.
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entered a tribute to
Catherine Basie into the Congressional Record highlighting her many years of work with children with disabilities.
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400:"Whitman Sisters [biography]:Biography Description: Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress"
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known as the “Snake Hips Queens.” She was also an accomplished singer, one of the original performers at the
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officials, accompanied
Catherine to the restaurant where they were allowed entry and given service.
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In 1971, when the Basie family moved from New York City to the
Bahamas, New York congressman
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The couple had one daughter, Diane Basie, who was born in
Cleveland, Ohio 1944 with
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632:"King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc166491"
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The marriage between
Catherine and the renowned jazz composer and bandleader,
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Catherine Basie (née Morgan) was born on April 11, 1914 in
Cleveland, Ohio.
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and was an advocate for civil rights and for children with disabilities.
209:. She died of a heart attack on April 11, 1983 at her home in Freeport.
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230:, and co-chaired a committees to honor civil rights activists such as
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executive secretary of the Columbus NAACP. Durham, along with other
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Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress
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and starred as a featured dancer in musical short films called
104:(née Morgan) (1914–1983) was a dancer who performed with the
833:"600 in NY Pay Tribute to 'Four Horsemen of Civil Rights'".
550:(Short, Music), Princess Aloha, Andy Iona, RCM Productions
16:
American dancer, philanthropist, and advocate (1914-1983)
338:(2nd ed.). Northeast Ohio Jazz Society. p. 50.
779:"Atty. Frank D. Reeves to address LKM Region Confab".
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neighborhood in Queens, NY and in the 1970s moved to
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Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie
498:
Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie
427:
Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography of Count Basie
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and became part of a trio of dancers which included
818:"4 Giants of Civil Rights Get Well-Earned Thanks".
754:"Catherine L. "Katy" Morgan Basie (1914-1983) -..."
706:"Diane Lillian Basie (1944-2022) - Find a Grave..."
380:"Count Basie's Wife Dies at Home of Heart Attack".
305:"Catherine L. "Katy" Morgan Basie (1914-1983) -..."
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270:Papers of Catherine Basie are located within the
533:(3): 13. 1 February 1943 – via RIPM Jazz.
112:. She married the jazz composer and bandleader
616:Calvin, Dolores (1943-01-23). "Thru Harlem".
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795:"LKM History- Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc"
228:National Conference of Christians and Jews
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729:"Protecting the House Where Lena Lived!"
272:Count Basie family papers and artifacts.
224:Southern Christian Leadership Conference
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201:Catherine and her husband lived in the
164:, January 27, 2024, Vintage Video Clips
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595:. U of Minnesota Press. p. 259.
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501:. U of Minnesota Press. p. 153.
430:. U of Minnesota Press. p. 135.
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472:"Princess Aloha | Actor, Soundtrack"
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848:"Cafe Bars and Serves Mrs. Basie".
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569:My Little Grass Shack (1942) - IMDb
657:"In Memory Of Diane Lillian Basie"
460:. April 12, 1983. pp. B - 13.
366:. U.S. Government Printing Office.
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525:"Princess Aloha may get Count".
360:Congress, United States (1971).
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85:Dancer, philanthropist, activist
277:. Rutgers University Libraries.
783:. 25 October 1960. p. 16.
681:"Count Basie in his own write"
1:
852:. October 3, 1953. p. 1.
162:“Princess Aloha - Hilo Hattie
456:"Catherine Basie Obituary".
402:. 2024-02-21. Archived from
589:Basie, Count (2016-12-14).
495:Basie, Count (2016-12-14).
424:Basie, Count (2016-12-14).
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837:. 29 June 1963. p. 5.
822:. 29 June 1963. p. 8.
232:Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
636:Washington State Archives
578:– via www.imdb.com.
275:Institute of Jazz Studies
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196:Lighthouse for the Blind
335:Cleveland Jazz History
332:Mosbrook, Joe (2003).
880:American jazz dancers
875:People from Cleveland
188:United Cerebral Palsy
120:Early life and career
850:The Chicago Defender
618:The Chicago Defender
142:Copacabana nightclub
236:Dr. Ralph Abernathy
870:Swimmers from Ohio
757:www.findagrave.com
709:www.findagrave.com
308:www.findagrave.com
240:Fred Shuttlesworth
685:thebluemoment.com
602:978-1-4529-5320-5
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64:(1983-04-11)
547:Hilo Hattie
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388:: 58. 1983.
177:Count Basie
114:Count Basie
94:Count Basie
864:Categories
804:2024-04-27
762:2024-04-27
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714:2024-04-27
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666:2024-04-27
575:2024-04-25
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288:References
203:St. Albans
138:Jeni LeGon
39:1914-04-11
641:April 25,
527:Down Beat
76:, Bahamas
733:HuffPost
213:Activism
110:soundies
70:Freeport
47:Columbus
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283:, IMDb
242:, and
194:, and
190:, the
90:Spouse
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252:NAACP
220:NAACP
643:2024
597:ISBN
503:ISBN
476:IMDb
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59:Died
51:Ohio
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