Louie Bellson

American jazz drummer (1924–2009)

Born: 6 July 1924
Rock Falls
Died: 14 February 2009
Los Angeles
Country: United States
Record labels: Verve Records, Concord Records, Chiaroscuro Records, Pablo, Roulette Records, Inc.
Discography: 29 albums

Biography

Louie Bellson was a jazz musician who played drum kit. Louie Bellson was born on 6 July 1924 in Rock Falls and died on 14 February 2009 in Los Angeles. The music is usually filed under jazz and swing. Record labels: Verve Records, Concord Records, Chiaroscuro Records and Pablo. The discography here lists 29 albums, from “The Exciting Mr. Bellson (And His Big Band)” (1954) to “The Mighty Two” (2020). Honours include NEA Jazz Masters.

Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paolino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009) was an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator. He is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums. His name was often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie. 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.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

The Exciting Mr. Bellson (And His Big Band) 1954 · Norgran Records Thunderbird 1966 · impulse! Repercussion 1967 · Columbia Records Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson 1974 · Everest Records The Drum Sessions 1975 · Philips The Louie Bellson Explosion 1975 · Pablo Intensive Care 1978 · Discwasher Recordings Louie Bellson Jam With Blue Mitchell 1979 · Live · Pablo Dynamite! 1980 · Concord Jazz Side Track 1981 · Concord Jazz Loose Walk 1983 · Chonto Airmail Special: A Salute to the Big Band Masters 1990 · Jazz Heritage

Basie In Sweden 1991 · Live

Ecué ritmos Cubanos 1991 · Pablo Jazz Giants 1992 · Live · Music Masters Jazz Peaceful Thunder 1992 · Music Masters Jazz Black, Brown & Beige 1994 Don't Stop Now! 1994 · Capri Records June 28-1959 at the Flamingo Hotel, Volume 1 1994 · Live · Jazz Hour Live From New York 1994 · Live · Telarc Prime Time 1995 · Concord Jazz Their Time Was the Greatest! 1996 · Concord Jazz Skin Deep 1999 · Verve Matterhorn 2003 · Original Jazz Classics Cool, Cool Blue 2007 · Fantasy Louie & Clark Expedition 2 2008 · Percussion Power Big Band Jazz From the Summit and Small Band Unreleased Studio Session 2013 · Fresh Sound Records The Mighty Two 2020 · HHO 150 MPH

Also plays on

Albums where Louie Bellson is credited as a sideman

1954	Recital by Oscar Peterson — Oscar Peterson	drums (drum set)
1954	Tatum, Carter, Bellson — Tatum, Carter, Bellson	drums (drum set)
1955	Roy & Diz — Dizzy Gillespie • Roy Eldridge	drums (drum set)
1956	Sophisticated Lady — Ben Webster	drums (drum set)
1957	Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson — Louis Armstrong & Oscar Peterson	drums (drum set)
1957	Ella and Louis Again — Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong	drums (drum set)
1957	Ella and Louis Again, Volume Two — Ella and Louis	drums (drum set)
1966	Ella at Duke’s Place — Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington	drums (drum set)
1966	Concert of Sacred Music — Duke Ellington	drums (drum set)
1966	Soul Mates — Dizzy Gillespie & Roy Eldridge	drums (drum set)
1968	30 by Ella — Ella Fitzgerald	drums (drum set)
1972	Ella Loves Cole — Ella Fitzgerald	drums (drum set)
1974	Duke's Big 4 — Duke Ellington	drums (drum set)
1974	The Bosses — Count Basie & Joe Turner	drums (drum set)
1975	“Satch” and “Josh” — Count Basie & Oscar Peterson	drums (drum set)
1975	Basie Jam — Count Basie	drums (drum set)
1975	The Oscar Peterson Big 6 at Montreux — Oscar Peterson	drums (drum set)
1976	Basie & Zoot — Count Basie & Zoot Sims	drums (drum set)
1978	Dream Dancing: Ella Fitzgerald & Cole Porter — Ella Fitzgerald	drums (drum set)
1978	Lady Time — Ella Fitzgerald	drums (drum set)
1978	“Fine and Mellow”: Ella Fitzgerald Jams — Ella Fitzgerald	drums (drum set)
1978	How Long Has This Been Going On? — Sarah Vaughan	drums (drum set)
1981	Kansas City 6 — Count Basie	drums (drum set)
1982	Europa Jazz — Howard McGhee, James Moody, Zoot Sims	drums (drum set)
1982	Dark Orchid — Sammy Nestico	drums (drum set)
1986	Yessir, That's My Baby — Count Basie, Oscar Peterson	drums (drum set)
1987	The Masters Sessions - Who's Who in Jazz — Stéphane Grappelli, Phil Woods, Louie Bellson	drums (drum set)
1988	Basie and Friends — Count Basie	drums (drum set)
1989	In the Mood for Swing — Benny Carter	drums (drum set)
1990	The Trumpet Kings at Montreux — Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie & Clark Terry	drums (drum set)

Awards

NEA Jazz Masters

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Louie Bellson play?

Louie Bellson is known for playing drum kit.

When and where was Louie Bellson born?

Louie Bellson was born 6 July 1924 in Rock Falls.

What are Louie Bellson's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include The Exciting Mr. Bellson (And His Big Band) (1954), Thunderbird (1966), Repercussion (1967), Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson (1974) and The Drum Sessions (1975).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.