In Honour of Louie...
I certainly hope everyone is enjoying the month. The jazz world recently lost a dear friend and Pioneer to the music. On February 14th of this year, legendary drummer Louie Bellson passed away at the age of 84.
Born in Rock Falls, Illinois in 1924, he's played the drums since the age of three. By the time he was 17, he beat out over 40,000 drummers to win the Gene Krupa Contest. Louie served in the U.S. Army Band and over the years played with Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, and countless others. He is well known for his work with Duke Ellington for which he wrote "Skin Deep".
Louie has been the leader of his Orchestra for over 40 years, and has given back to the music 1,000 times over by way of holding drum clinics at High Schools & Colleges. He has earned dozens of accolades, including the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Musicians and Jazz Studies Students alike are more enriched by the efforts of Louie Bellson - whether directly or indirectly. The Jazz Community is profoundly grateful for Louie's music, creativity, teachings, and overall efforts.
For more information on Louie Bellson, please visit http://www.louiebellson.info/home.html
Cheers!
- jh
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