The son of a musical instrument dealer, Louie Bellson began tap-dancing and learning the drums. In his teens, he entered a competition for young musicians, whose jury was presided over by another famous jazz drummer, Gene Krupa. He won the competition, and this springboard enabled him to be hired first by a dance band and then by Benny Goodman's band. In the late '40s, he played with bandleader Tommy Dorsey, before setting up his own band with trumpeter Charlie Shavers. After a brief stint as a leader, he was hired by Harry James' band and joined Duke Ellington's ranks in the early '50s, replacing Sonny Greer. In this orchestra, motivated by Duke Ellington's enthusiasm, Louie Bellson also asserted himself as a composer and arranger. In 1952, he married singer Pearl Bailey and became her regular drummer. Nevertheless, he continued to participate in various projects over the following years, including JATP tours and appearances in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Harry James again, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum and others. In 1966, he was in Duke Ellington's rhythm section when the orchestra presented its first concert of sacred music. In the late '70s and early '80s, he took charge of a big band with which he performed in America and Europe. Without interrupting his career as a musician, he spent much more time composing and teaching music from the 80s onwards.
