Biography
Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr. (November 14, 1934 – April 1, 2020) was a highly influential American jazz pianist, composer, and educator, widely regarded as the patriarch of the Marsalis musical family. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Marsalis began his formal music studies at age eleven and later graduated from Dillard University with a degree in music education. He initially played both tenor saxophone and piano before focusing on piano, performing locally and serving as a band director after college. Marsalis honed his skills further during a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, performing on military television and radio shows before returning to New Orleans to immerse himself in the city’s jazz scene.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Marsalis collaborated with notable musicians such as Ed Blackwell, Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, and Al Hirt, but he became best known for his dedication to jazz education. He taught at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Xavier University of Louisiana, and the University of New Orleans, where he founded the Jazz Studies program. Marsalis’s teaching philosophy emphasized both historical understanding and personal discovery in jazz, and he mentored a generation of musicians who would go on to shape the genre. Despite his devotion to teaching, he recorded nearly twenty albums as a leader and appeared on many others, earning recognition for his modern, exploratory approach to jazz piano.
Marsalis’s legacy is profound—not only as a performer but as a mentor to countless artists, including his own sons Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason, all of whom became prominent jazz musicians. He received numerous honors, including induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, the NEA Jazz Masters Award (with his sons), and a posthumous Grammy Trustees Award. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans stands as a testament to his enduring impact on jazz and music education.
Fun Facts
- Ellis Marsalis was one of the few New Orleans jazz musicians of his era who did not play Dixieland or R&B, instead focusing on modern jazz styles.
- He appeared on Marine Corps-sponsored TV and radio shows, 'Dress Blues' and 'Leatherneck Songbook,' while serving in the military.
- Marsalis was a fraternity brother of both Phi Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, receiving the latter's highest honor, 'Man of Music,' in 2015.
- The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans is named in his honor, supporting music education and community development.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Roger Dickerson - Early bandmate and influence during high school R&B performances (Local performances) [late 1940s–early 1950s]
Key Collaborators
- Ed Blackwell - Formed a small combo together, advancing modern jazz in New Orleans (Small combo performances) [1950s–1960s]
- Cannonball Adderley - Performed and recorded with Adderley, expanding Marsalis's exposure (Live and studio collaborations) [1950s–1960s]
- Al Hirt - Toured with Hirt for three years (Touring band) [1967–1970]
- David 'Fathead' Newman - Featured on recordings together (Studio albums) [1980s–1990s]
- Eddie Harris - Collaborated on recordings (Studio albums) [1980s–1990s]
Artists Influenced
- Wynton Marsalis - Son and student; became a leading jazz trumpeter and composer (Multiple albums, NEA Jazz Masters Award) [1970s–2020s]
- Branford Marsalis - Son and student; acclaimed saxophonist and bandleader (Multiple albums, NEA Jazz Masters Award) [1970s–2020s]
- Delfeayo Marsalis - Son and student; trombonist and producer (Multiple albums, NEA Jazz Masters Award) [1980s–2020s]
- Jason Marsalis - Son and student; drummer and vibraphonist (Multiple albums, NEA Jazz Masters Award) [1990s–2020s]
- Harry Connick Jr. - Student at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts; became a renowned pianist and vocalist (Multiple albums) [1970s–1980s]
- Terence Blanchard - Student at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts; acclaimed trumpeter and composer (Multiple albums, film scores) [1970s–1980s]
- Nicholas Payton - Student; Grammy-winning trumpeter (Multiple albums) [1980s–1990s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Of Gold | 1992-01-28 | Album |
| Joe Cool's Blues | 1995-04-18 | Album |
| Return To The Wide Open Spaces | 2025-04-11 | Album |
| A New Orleans Christmas Carol (Deluxe Edition) | 2011-11-15 | Album |
| Duke In Blue | 1999-10-11 | Album |
| Loved Ones | 1995-06-27 | Album |
| Ruminations in New York | 2005-03-15 | Album |
| Pure Pleasure For The Piano | 2012-01-01 | Album |
| On the Second Occasion | 2014-04-08 | Album |
| On the First Occasion | 2013-10-08 | Album |
| New Orleans Christmas Carol | 2011-10-11 | Album |
| Whistle Stop | 1994-03-08 | Album |
| An Open Letter To Thelonious (Deluxe Edition) | 2010-12-07 | Album |
| The Classic Ellis Marsalis | 2003-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- DO You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (Heart Of Gold)
- I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Heart Of Gold)
- My One and Only Love
- The Little Drummer Boy (feat. Bill Huntington & Jason Marsalis) (A New Orleans Christmas Carol (Deluxe Edition))
- Charlie Brown (Joe Cool's Blues)
- Heart of Gold (Heart Of Gold)
- Oh, Good Grief! (Joe Cool's Blues)
- Drop Me Off In Harlem (Duke In Blue)
- Buster's Tune (Return To The Wide Open Spaces)
- Mo' Better Blues (feat. Ellis Marsalis) (A Love Letter to New Orleans)
External Links
Tags: #death-by-covid-19, #jazz, #post-bop
References
Heard on WWOZ
Ellis Marsalis has been played 32 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.