Louie Bellson

 

Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni
Italian-American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator.
Born: 6 July 1924 in Rock Falls, Illinois, USA.
Died: 14 February 2009 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

He is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums, a set-up he already used at the age of 15. He received the prestigious Jazz Masters Award from the US National Endowment of the Arts in 1994 and was made a “Living Legend” by the Kennedy Centre in 2007.
He was previously married to singer Pearl Bailey from November 1952 until her death in 1990. His daughter was Dee Dee Bellson and his last wife was Francine Bellson.