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One of the last survivors of the big band leaders, Louie Bellson was a pioneer of several technical innovations on the drums, including the use of double bass drums, and a leading educator in jazz drum. At 16, he won first prize in a national drumming contest sponsored by Gene Krupa. The next year, he occupied Krupa's former chair as drummer with the Benny Goodman band. Thereafter, his big band reputation growing rapidly, he powered the Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Count Basie bands. But his most famous affiliation came with the Duke Ellington orchestra, starting with a 1951-53 stint. Not only was he Ellington's drummer, but the bandleader also performed some of Bellson's earliest arrangements, such as "Skin Deep" and "The Hawk Talks." His relationship with Ellington continued long after he served the band as its regular drummer. Bellson appeared with Ellington on special occasions, such as the recording of A Drum is a Woman in 1956, and Ellington's first sacred concert in 1965. Ellington considered him one of the best drummers in jazz. After leaving the Ellington band in 1953, Bellson served as musical director for his wife, singer Pearl Bailey, and also led his own big bands, which included significant soloists such as Blue Mitchell, Conte Candoli, Bobby Shew, and Cat Anderson. He also performed on the all-star Jazz at the Philharmonic tours and rejoined the Dorsey and James bands for brief periods. Since the 1960s, Bellson has been involved in educational work, teaching young musicians his dynamic drumming technique. In the 1970s and 1980s, he could frequently be found on recordings from impresario Norman Granz's Pablo label, as well as the Concord label. He has published many of his scores, including his jazz ballet The Marriage Vows. For more than twenty years he has led big bands internationally, and continued to tour through the 1990s, often with a quintet.
Selected Discography
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