- Born
- Died
- Birth nameLuigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni
- Drummer, composer, author and conductor. He performed with the orchestras of Ted Fiorito, Benny Goodman, the Dorsey brothers, Harry James, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. He toured with Jazz At the Philharmonic, and later organized his own band and did a concert tour with his wife Pearl Bailey. In 1965 he rejoined the Ellington orchestra. He has made many records. Joining ASCAP in 1956, he composed "Hawk Talks", Skin Deep", "You Gotta Dance", and "Ting-a-Ling".
- IMDb mini biography by: Hup234!
- SpousesFrancine Wright(1992 - February 14, 2009) (his death)Pearl Bailey(November 19, 1952 - August 17, 1990) (her death, 2 children)
- ChildrenTony Bellson
- ParentsCarmen BartoulcciLouis
- Bellson, a jazz drummer, was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1993. He pioneered the use of two bass drums instead of one.
- Received a Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994; a Living Jazz Legends Award from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2007; a Jazz Living Legend Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; and a American Drummers Achievement Award from the Avedis Zildjian Co.
- Father of Dee Dee Belson. He passed away less than five months before her death from cancer.
- Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1978.
- Bellson was one of eight children born to Italian immigrant parents of Napolitan and Milanese descent, Louis and Carmen Bartolucci.
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