WEBJan 27, 2021 · Published January 26, 2021 at 7:19 PM EST. IAN Productions. Sammy Nestico, an omnipresence in big band arranging and composing, best known for a close association with the Count Basie Orchestra, died of natural causes on Jan. 17 at his home in Carlsbad, Calif. He was 96. His death was confirmed by his wife, Shirley Nestico.