Louie Bellson Legacy: NEWS

Bellson colleague and dear friend saxophonist, flautist, bandleader and educator Buddy Collette passed away Sept 19, 2010 in Los Angeles. Share memories in the Guestbook.

Collette helped merge the black and white musicians' unions in L.A. and mentored many African American musicians. He was active in preserving and promoting L.A. jazz history.

For Chicago Tribune Obituary click photo --->
But for the Real scoop (historical), read this blog by Marc Myers of JazzWax.com in AllAboutJazz ______________________________________________________________

The Race To honor the memory of Moline, IL native and world acclaimed music legend Louie Bellson, the inaugural running of the "Louie Bellson 5K Memorial Drum Roll" road race will take place in Moline Sat Oct 16, 2010. Proceeds will go to support music education in Illinois Quad City public schools.
Louie Bellson Memorial Race

Mail-In Registration <-- Click the logo to download the Application form and fill it out. Mail your completed form and registration fee to the address given on the form.
Race Hotline: (309) 752-8429

Attn: Interested Sponsors!! We are currently seeking sponsors for the race, both local and national. Contact: Rob Moon, Race Director bellsonmemorial5k@gmail.com or (708) 288-1168. _______________________________________________________________

(Click banner for direct link) ______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B thoroughly enjoyed the presentations of Bellson N. Californian drumming proteges David Garibaldi (Tower of Power) and Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta) at DRUM! Magazine's Rhythm Night held at the San Jose Repertory Theatre. The program had been planned as a fundraiser for cancer patient drummer Richie Hayward (Little Feat) who, most unfortunately, passed away just 1 day before the event.
(click pics for websites) --> ______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B welcomed drummer/historian Daniel Glass at Lemmon Percussion in San Jose, the first stop on his West Coast Clinic Tour.
Here's a pic Mrs. B took of Daniel & Louie (circa 2001) during one of their many interviews documenting drum history. (Click photo for DG website.) ---> ______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B gave testimony about her trip to Moline, IL in May to dedicate the Bellson Monument. Grateful for the support of those who attended the service at Sherman Oaks United Methodist Church in southern Calif, she was pleasantly surprised by the attendance of Bellson long-time friend and colleague, Tonight Show drummer Ed Shaughnessy who said, simply, "I came to honor my friend Louie." Blessings, Ed! ______________________________________________________________

Louie Bellson colleague and friend English drummer
Martin Drew passed away July 29, in London. He was a devoted jazz drummer for Oscar Peterson and the house drummer at the celebrated London nightclub Ronnie Scott's.
Share memories in the Guestbook.
(Click photo for article.) ---> ______________________________________________________________

We have received authorization to post this TV News story on the website (Homepage, News page, Calendar and Video pages). Thank you WQAD!


See clip from WQAD-TV News story on unveiling the Bellson Monument in Moline, Illinois (Quad-Cities) on 5-20-10.

<--- (click logo to view 50 sec video clip) ____________________________________________________________

photo by John Schultz, Q-C Times May 20, Moline, IL. Despite Mrs. B's tornado-delayed plane, (some) attendees' hours-long drive in the rain from all over Illinois, not to mention the constant rain during the entire ceremony, stalwart fans could not be deterred from expressing their respect for Louie Bellson at the official unveiling of the headstone monument by designer Mrs. B. (See Homepage for design of frontside of stone).
Guests included family, friends, clergy; Ill. state Rep.; former Mayor of Rock Falls (Bellson's birth city); Chicago Deputy Sheriff; Author of upcoming book on Italians in Jazz; RME Museum Director; Educators; Drummers from Symphony and Jazz.

Click links below for articles and more photos.

May 16, Quad-City Times, "Bellson's widow keeping his musical legacy alive"



May 20, Moline Dispatch, "Bellson beat goes on"





May 21, Quad-City Times, "Family, friends memorialize jazz great"




May 21, Moline Dispatch, "Honoring a legend"






30 PHOTOS by Dispatch photographer John Greenwood and Quad-Cities Times photographer John Schultz.

Text: Illinois Resolution HR169 by state Rep. Mike Boland.

Note: Whether you were able to attend or not, please share your thoughts in the Guestbook _______________________________________________________________

American jazz master and Illinois native son Louie Bellson will be honored in two observances this week in the Q-C (Quad-Cities) Illinois area.




May 20, 2010
4:30 pm -- Monument Dedication - Riverside Cemetery - Moline, IL
6:00 pm -- Reception/Concert - River Music Experience Museum - Davenport, IA

Click River Music Experience or Mrs. B's Calendar for info.
Bellson's display at River Music Experience Museum, Davenport, IA. (Right next to Bix's!) --> _______________________________________________________________

Louie Bellson colleague (on several Bellson albums) and friend pianist
Hank Jones passed away May 16, 2010 in New York. Share memories in the Guestbook.
(Click photo for article.) ---> ______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B was one of several "jazz widows" interviewed for today's Wall Street Journal article (p. D7) "Savvy Widows Leverage Jazz Legends' Legacies" by Marc Myers who writes about jazz daily at JazzWax.com.
Get WSJ newspaper, or click photo to read online. --->

Read Myer's comments on this story, "Jazz Spouses Get Smart," click JazzWax. (May 13) Video: "Portrait of a Jazz Blogger - Marc Myers - JazzWax (12 min. video) _______________________________________________________________

Louie Bellson colleague and friend singer- actress
Lena Horne passed away May 9, 2010 in New York. Close with both Louie & wife Pearl Bailey, she co-starred in several films with Pearl (1940-50's) and sang in Ellington's Sacred Concert with Louie Bellson drumming (1965) as pictured here.

Share memories in the Guestbook.
(Click photo for article.)







Bellson, Horne and Ellington in concert, 1965 ---> ______________________________________________________________

Time is running out to order Bellson gifts (CDs, shirts, etc.) for Mother's Day, especially . . .
Drum Wife and Drum Mom Tote Bags
Go to Mrs. B's Gift Shop or download Order Form.

Also ....
New offerings from the The Cookie Garden.

BONUS! Free CD Download Card w/ every Bellson cookie order at The Cookie Garden _____________________________________________________________

The Race The inaugural running of the "Louie Bellson 5K Memorial Drum Roll" road race will take place in Moline, Illinois in Oct 2010. Proceeds will go to support music education in Illinois Quad City public schools. (exact date TBA -- see Mrs. B's Calendar)

Art Contest Because Bellson was a music educator and health enthusiast throughout his career, the race is sponsor-
ing a contest open to student artists in Illinois Quad Cities Schools to create a logo for this new event.
Deadline for Art Contest submission: May 14, 2010.
Click here for Logo Art Contest Rules. _______________________________________________________________

American jazz master and Illinois native son Louie Bellson will be honored in two observances next month in the Q-C area.





May 20, 2010
4:30 pm -- Monument Dedication - Riverside Cemetery - Moline, IL
6:00 pm -- Reception - River Music Experience Museum - Davenport, IA

Click River Music Experience or Mrs. B's Calendar for info.
Bellson's display at River Music Experience Museum, Davenport, IA. (Right next to Bix's!) --> _______________________________________________________________

VintageDrumGuide historian David Anfuso and Mrs. B have collaborated again!
Now there are two more reasons to order delectables from The Cookie Garden.

New box selection!
Added to the two existing tins is a New Box Design which holds the same dozen humongous cookies.
They were Louie's favorites!

Click photo to browse full selection --->


New Gift enclosure!
Remember the prize we used to get in the Cracker Jack box?
Now get a Free CD Download Card with every order of Bellson cookies.
_______________________________________________________________

We regret to announce the passing of Louie's sister, Mary Selhost, 88, on April 13, 2010. The funeral will be held April 19 at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Coal Valley, IL. Condolences may be expressed in the Guestbook.
(Click photo for obituary.) ---> ______________________________________________________________

A big "Thank you" to Bellson fan Takeshi Takeuchi, who sent photos of the Japan concert described in Jeff Hamilton's JazzTimes article. (Mar 27 News item below)

The "Statesmen of Jazz" Concert Tour in Sept 1997 was Mrs. B's first trip to Japan. Though hardly Mr. B's first, who'd played there many times throughout the years, incl. with Buddy Rich et. al.

Click thumbnails for full pages. -->

Challenge: Identify the four drummers featured. (see JazzTimes article for answer.) _______________________________________________________________

Louie Bellson colleague and friend pianist
John Bunch passed away March 30, 2010 in New York. Share memories in the Guestbook.
(Click photo for article.) ---> ______________________________________________________________

Louie Bellson colleague and friend guitarist
Herb Ellis passed away March 28, 2010 in Los Angeles. Share memories in the Guestbook.
(Click photo & scroll down
to article & video.) ---> ______________________________________________________________

A personal remembrance of Bellson in the "Farewells" section of JazzTimes magazine, written by fellow drummer Jeff Hamilton. (To read article, click logo.) --> ______________________________________________________________

The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson

Louie & Clark Expedition 2

The two latest Bellson CDs (Percussion Power label) are now available as Download Cards for sale by Mrs. B.
Download Bellson albums to your computer, iPod or other portable device. They're the perfect gift enclosure!
(To purchase, contact bellson_1@att.net) ______________________________________________________________

The Louie Bellson headstone in Moline, IL was lovingly designed by Mrs. B.
Starting this month, Q-C area (IL) residents can hear WOC-AM radio ads for Moline Monument Co., one featuring an endorsement by Mrs. B. (30 sec.)
Listen to Ad (click WOC logo) ---> ______________________________________________________________

This just in >>>
After more than 15 years of success as a VHS,
"A Lesson with Louie Bellson" is now a DVD. (click)
In 1992, Bellson proposed the idea of documenting the approach of his renowned teacher Murray Spivack in the form of filming a lesson with Louie as the student. Other “students” David Garibaldi and Peter Donald perform as well.
<---- click Gift Shop page or
Alfred Music Publishing: (click cover) ---->
Murray Spivack – A Lesson with Louie Bellson
VHS released as DVD _______________________________________________________________