Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni (born 6 July 1924), better known by the stage name Louie Bellson, is an Italian-American jazz drummer. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A stage name, also called a screen name, is a Pseudonym used by Performers and Entertainers such as An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A drummer is a Musician who plays a Drum or drums particularly a Drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set" Marching percussion He is a composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator, and is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance In Music, an arrangement refers either to a rewriting of a piece of existing Music with additional new material or to a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch such A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as A bass drum is a large Drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch.
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Biography
Louie Bellson was born in Rock Falls, Illinois in 1924 and started playing drums at three years of age. Rock Falls is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. At age 15, he pioneered the double-bass drum set-up. A bass drum is a large Drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. His detailed sketch earned him an 'A' in his high school art class. At age 17, he triumphed over 40,000 drummers to win the Slingerland National Gene Krupa contest. The Slingerland Drum Company is a historic Drum company which is linked to the rich history of Jazz drumming Gene Krupa ( January 15, 1909 &ndash October 16, 1973) was an influential American Jazz and Big band Drummer
Bellson is an internationally-acclaimed artist who has performed in most of the major capitals around the world. With the exception of Bob Hope, who has made the most White House appearances, Bellson holds, along with his late wife, actress and singer Pearl Bailey, the second highest number of White House appearances. Bob Hope, KBE KCSG ( May 29, 1903 &ndash July 27, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who appeared in See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence Pearl Mae Bailey ( March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American singer and actress
In 1942, he performed with the Benny Goodman band and Peggy Lee in "The Power Girl", the first of his many film appearances. Louie was 24 and a veteran of a U. S. Army band when he joined Danny Kaye, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnett, Benny Carter, Mel Powell, Kenny Dorharn, Harry Babasin, Al Hendrickson, Buck Washington, and Goodman for Howard Hawks' "A Song Is Born," a movie still shown sometimes on late, late shows on TV to this day.
Between 1943 and 1952, Bellson performed with Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Duke Ellington (for whom he wrote "Skin Deep" and "The Hawk Talks"). Tommy Dorsey ( November 19 1905 &ndash November 26 1956) was an American Jazz Trombonist, Trumpeter Harry James ( March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American Musician and Band leader, and a well-known Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. In 1952 he married Pearl Bailey (their marriage would last until her death in 1990) and left Ellington to be her musical director. Pearl Mae Bailey ( March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American singer and actress Later in the 1950s and 1960s he performed with Jazz at the Philharmonic or J. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Jazz at the Philharmonic or JATP (1944 - 1983 was the title of a series of Concerts and Recordings produced by Norman Granz (1918 - 2001 A. T. P. , Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie, Duke Ellington again, and Harry James again, as well as appearing on several Ella Fitzgerald studio albums. Tommy Dorsey ( November 19 1905 &ndash November 26 1956) was an American Jazz Trombonist, Trumpeter James "Jimmy" Dorsey ( February 29, 1904 &ndash June 12, 1957) was a prominent American Jazz Clarinetist William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential
He has performed and/or recorded scores of albums (approximately 200) as a leader, co-leader or sideman with such renowned musicians and leaders such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Woody Herman, Norman Granz' J. John Fraser MacPherson CM ( 10 April 1928 - 27 September 1993) was a Canadian jazz musician born in St Harry Howell Carney ( April 1, 1910 - October 8, 1974) was a swing Baritone saxophonist, Clarinetist and Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader. William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist Tommy Dorsey ( November 19 1905 &ndash November 26 1956) was an American Jazz Trombonist, Trumpeter Harry James ( March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American Musician and Band leader, and a well-known Woodrow Charles Herman ( May 16 1913 &ndash October 29 1987) better known as Woody Herman, was an American Jazz Norman Granz ( Los Angeles, USA, August 6, 1918 - Geneva, Switzerland, November 22, 2001) was an American A. T. P. (Jazz at the Philharmonic), Benny Carter, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Hank Jones, Zoot Sims, Sonny Stitt, Milt Jackson, Clark Terry, Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Shelly Manne, Billy Cobham, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Pearl Bailey, Mel Tormé, Joe Williams, Wayne Newton, and film composer John Williams. Jazz at the Philharmonic or JATP (1944 - 1983 was the title of a series of Concerts and Recordings produced by Norman Granz (1918 - 2001 Bennett Lester Carter (born August 8, 1907 in Harlem New York; died July 12, 2003 in Los Angeles California) was Sarah Lois Vaughan (nicknamed " Sassy " and " The Divine One ") ( March 27 1924, &ndash April Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, CC, CQ, OOnt ( 15 August 1925 – 23 December 2007) was a Canadian Arthur Tatum Jr ( October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American Jazz Pianist and Virtuoso. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( October 21 1917 &ndash January 6 1993) was an American Jazz Trumpeter Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan (April 6 1927 – January 20 1996 was an American Jazz saxophonist Composer and arranger. Stanley Gayetzky ( February 2, 1927 in Philadelphia – June 6, 1991 in Malibu, California) usually known by Henry "Hank" Jones (born July 31, 1918) is an American Jazz Pianist, Bandleader, and Composer John Haley "Zoot" Sims ( October 29, 1925 - March 23, 1985) was an American Jazz Tenor saxophonist Edward "Sonny" Stitt (b February 2, 1924, Boston Massachusetts &ndash d Milton (Milt Jackson (January 1 1923 in Detroit Michigan &ndash October 9 1999 was an American Jazz Vibraphonist and one of the most important figures Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920) nicknamed Mumbles, is a Grammy Award-winning American swing and bop Trumpeter, a Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter Lionel Leo Hampton ( April 20, 1908 &ndash August 31, 2002) was an American Jazz Vibraphonist, Percussionist Edward Davis ( March 2, 1922 &ndash November 3, 1986) who performed and recorded as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American Shelly Manne (June 11 1920&ndashSeptember 26 1984 born Sheldon Manne in New York City, was an American jazz drummer. William C Cobham (born May 16 1944 in Panama) is a Panamanian American Jazz Drummer, Composer and Bandleader James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The Samuel George “Sammy” Davis Jr (8 December 1925 &ndash 16 May 1990 was an American Entertainer. Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto; August 3 1926) is an American Singer of popular music, standards Pearl Mae Bailey ( March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American singer and actress Melvin Howard Tormé ( September 13, 1925 &ndash June 5, 1999) nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician known as Joe Williams may refer to Cyclone Joe Williams, baseball pitcher and hall of famer Joe Williams (jazz singer, achieved prominence Carson Wayne Newton' (born April 3, 1942) is an American Singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas Nevada. John Towner Williams (born February 8 1932) is an American Composer, conductor and Pianist.
Over the years, Bellson has taken several bandleader's holidays to play under the direction of other leaders or to lead someone else's band. During the 1960s, he rejoined Ellington for his Emancipation Proclamation Centennial stage production, My People, the motion picture soundtrack of Assault on a Queen, and for what Ellington called "the most important thing I have ever done" -— his Concerts of Sacred Music. In 1966, Bellson toured briefly with both Basie and ex-boss Harry James. A few years later, renowned drummer Buddy Rich (referred to by many as "the world's greatest drummer" over the years) paid Bellson a supreme drummer-to-drummer/bandleader compliment by asking him to lead his band on tour while he (Rich) was temporarily disabled by a back injury. Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and Bandleader Bellson proudly accepted.
He also recorded extensively and led his own bands (occasionally maintaining separate bands on each coast). His sidemen have included Blue Mitchell, Don Menza, Larry Novak, John Heard, Clark Terry, Pete and Conte Candoli, and Snooky Young. Richard Allen (Blue Mitchell ( March 13, 1930 &ndash May 21, 1979) was an American Jazz, Rhythm and blues, Don Menza is an American Saxophonist, Arranger, Composer, Session musician and jazz Educator noted for his many contributions to American Lawrence R "Larry" Novak (b May 18 1933 is an American Jazz pianist John Heard may refer to John Heard (ferryman (born 1835 ferryman and namesake of Heard's Ferry John Heard (actor (born Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920) nicknamed Mumbles, is a Grammy Award-winning American swing and bop Trumpeter, a Pete Candoli (born Walter Joseph Candoli) ( June 28, 1923 &ndash January 11, 2008) was an American swing Secondo "Conte" Candoli ( July 12, 1927 &ndash December 14, 2001) was an American Jazz Trumpeter "Eugene Young" redirects here For the character from The Practice, see Eugene Young (character. He was equally effective as a big band drummer and as a small group drummer. A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late In 2006, Mr. Bellson released a CD entitled The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson and the Jazz Ballet.
In May of 2007, Mr. Bellson recorded a number of his compositions and arrangements for big band, featuring Clark Terry on Flugelhorn, as well as Kenny Washington and Sylvia Cuenca on drums. Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920) nicknamed Mumbles, is a Grammy Award-winning American swing and bop Trumpeter, a There are several notable persons named Kenny Washington, including Kenny Washington (American football, American football player Kenny Washington The big band was manned by the members of Clark Terry's Big Band. The music was recorded in Studio A at Clinton Recording Studios in New York City. The album, which will be titled Louie and Clark Expedition 2 will be released in January, 2008.
Bellson has led his own orchestra almost steadily for more than forty years. His present band is called the Big Band Explosion.
Compositions and arrangements
As a prolific creator of music, both written and improvised, his compositions and arrangements (in the hundreds) embrace jazz, jazz/rock/fusion, romantic orchestral suites, symphonic works and a ballet. Not known by too many about Bellson, he is also a poet and a lyricist. His one Broadway venture, Portofino (1958), was a resounding flop that closed after three performances. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Portofino is a musical with a book by Richard Ney, lyrics by Ney and Sheldon Harnick, and music by Louis Bellson and Will Irwin
As an author, he has published more than a dozen books on drums and percussion. He is currently at work with his biographer on a book chronicling his career and bearing the same name as one of his compositions -- "Skin Deep".
In addition, "The London Suite" (recorded on his album Louie in London) was performed at the Hollywood Pilgrimage Bowl before a record-breaking audience. The three-part work includes a choral section in which a 12-voice choir sings lyrics penned by Bellson. Part One is the band's rousing "Carnaby Street", a collaboration with Jack Hayes.
In 1987, at the Percussive Arts Society convention in Washington, D. C. , Bellson and Harold Farberman performed a major orchestral work titled "Concerto for Jazz Drummer and Full Orchestra", the first piece ever written specifically for jazz drummer and full symphony orchestra. This work was recorded by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in England, and was released by the Swedish label, B. I. S.
Drum tutoring
Bellson has been known throughout his career (up to and including the present) to conduct drum and band clinics at high schools, colleges and music stores. Aimed at student musicians of all ages, they are known to be attended as much by many professional musicians as well as by youngsters and aspiring drummers.
Bellson maintains a tight schedule of clinics and performances of both big bands and small bands in colleges, clubs and concert halls. In between, he continues to record and compose, resulting in more than 100 albums and more than 300 compositions to date. Bellson's Telarc debut recording, Louie Bellson And His Big Band: Live From New York, was released in June of 1994. He also continues to create new drum technology for Remo, Inc. , of which he is vice president.
Bellson received his Doctor of Humane Letters in 1985 at Northern Illinois University.
As of 2005, among other performing activities, Bellson visits his home town of Rock Falls, Illinois every July for Louie Bellson Heritage Days, a weekend in his honor close to his July 6th birthday, with receptions, music clinics and other performances by Bellson. At the 2004 event celebrating his 80th birthday, Bellson said, appropriately for the inventor and pioneer of double-bass drumming, "I'm not that old; I'm 40 in this leg, and 40 in the other leg. " (Drum! Magazine, September/October 2004, pg. 30, by Rob Howe. ) He also celebrates his birthday ever year at the River Music Experience in Davenport, Iowa.
Awards
Among Bellson's numerous accolades: He has been voted into the Halls of Fame for both Modern Drummer magazine and the Percussive Arts Society. Yale University named him a Duke Ellington Fellow in 1977. He received an honorary Doctorate from Northern Illinois University in 1985. He performed his original concert-- Tomus I, II, III --with the Washington Civic Symphony in historic Constitution Hall in 1993. A combination of full symphony orchestra, big-band ensemble and 80-voice choir, "Tomus" had been a collaboration of music by Bellson and lyrics by his late wife, Pearl Bailey. He received the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA is a United States federally funded and donation assisted program that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence Additionally, Louie Bellson is a four-time Grammy Award nominee.
In January 1994, Bellson received the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, a U. S. federal agency. As one of three recipients, Bellson was lauded by NEA chair Jane Alexander who said, "These colossal talents have helped write the history of jazz in America. "
External links
- Louis Bellson at the Internet Broadway Database
- Link to louiebellson.com
- Drummerworld
- You tube video of Louis Bellson
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