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Welcome to the Bellson Beat!
~ 2026 ~
LB102: Commemorating 102 years of
the Enduring works of LOUIE BELLSON
Louie Bellson was deemed “the world’s greatest musician” by Duke Ellington, “the epitome of musical talent and a very gifted composer and arranger” by Oscar Peterson, and “the best person I ever met” by Tony Bennett.
He performed on more than 200 albums with a range of artists, including Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Woody Herman, Oscar Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Wayne Newton, and Bellson's first wife Pearl Bailey.
Bellson composed more than 1,000 pieces and wrote a dozen books on drums and percussion. He received the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994. He was also the recipient of awards from ASCAP and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was a six-time Grammy nominee, and held four honorary doctorates.
Hometown Banner
Hometown Hero Military Banner
“. . . sending you a photo of Louie’s Hometown Hero Military Banner that has been put up on 1st Ave in Rock Falls. It looks really good. These are double sided so can be seen from both sides.”
Melinda Jones, Director of Tourism & Events
City of Rock Falls, Illinois
← See the 250 sign?
Concurrent celebration of USA 250 and LB102.
Bellson Music Fest
Click Poster for lively publicity Ad! (30 sec)
Click pics to play Bio VIDEO (5 min)
For full bio, click Bio & Beyond page.
For more quotes with photos, click Celebrity Quotes page.
Then, write your say in the Guestbook .
