
Person
Louie Bellson
Acting · 1924–2009 · Rock Falls, Illinois, USA
Biography
Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paolino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie, was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator, and is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums. Bellson performed in most of the major capitals around the world. 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Louie Bellson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self

The Mike Douglas Show
Self

Lou Grant
1977

NET Playhouse
Self

A Song Is Born
Drums
Duke Ellington: Love You Madly
Self

Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On Broadway
Orchestrator
In memoriam Duke Ellington
Self
Filmography
- 1993In memoriam Duke EllingtonSelf
- 1977Lou Grant
- 1969Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On BroadwayOrchestrator
- 1967Duke Ellington: Love You MadlySelf
- 1966NET PlayhouseSelf
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf
- 1948A Song Is BornDrums
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