Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson | |
|---|---|
From left: Louie Bellson, Cat Anderson, and Clark Terry at the Palomar Supper Club, April 19, 1952, with the Duke Ellington Orchestra; photo courtesy of Fraser MacPherson estate | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Luigi Paolino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni |
| Born | July 6, 1924 Rock Falls, Illinois |
| Died | February 14, 2009 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Jazz, big band, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, bandleader |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1931–2009 |
| Labels | Roulette, Concord, Pablo, Musicmasters |
| Formerly of | Duke Ellington Orchestra |
| Spouse | |
Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paolino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie, was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator, and is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums.
Bellson and his wife, actress and singer Pearl Bailey (married from 1952 until Bailey's death in 1990), had the second highest number of appearances at the White House (only Bob Hope had more).
Bellson was a vice president at Remo, a drum company. He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1985.