Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A legendary name in world swing-band history is coming to Mississippi State Feb. 19 as part of the university's Lyceum Series.
A concert by the Count Basie Orchestra, winner of 17 Grammy awards over its 60-year history, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall auditorium.
Available at the door, tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens (65 and over by request), and $8 for children ages 3-12. MSU students will be admitted free with student identification. All seats purchased at the door are general admission.
In his 80-year life span, William "Count" Basie so expanded and elevated the art form of jazz that modern music's connoisseurs around the world regard his legacy as an American institution. Today's Basie musicians have grown up with the founder's signature Kansas City Swing style while adding their own musical voice.
With 18 performers, 17 sidemen and bandleader Bill Hughes, the group remains one of the world's premier jazz bands. Constantly in demand for world tours and recordings, it has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, and continues to accumulate awards and special recognitions.
For more information on the 2008-09 MSU Lyceum Series, telephone 662-325-4201 or visit www.msstate.edu/dept/lyceum. For more on the visiting orchestra, see www.countbasie.com.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.