Louie Bellson: NEWS

Notice: As seen on the schedule page, the 3 Illinois events have been postponed. _______________________________________________________________

Ed S. sent Mrs. B the link to this article on his performance at the Playboy Jazz Festival: "Shaughnessy, long recognized as a sterling big band drummer (especially with Doc Severinson’s band on The Tonight Show) … (performed) with a dynamic and seasoned quintet … Playing a large, double bass drum kit, Shaughnessy dedicated his set to the man who pioneered the set up, the great and recently deceased Louis Bellson. Launching into a refreshingly original version of Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the ‘A’ Train,” … Shaughnessy’s enthusiasm for the music and his affection for lost comrade Bellson made his set a touching celebration of the music’s immortality."
Ref: The International Review of Music, http://irom.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/live-jazz-playboy-jazz-free-concert-diane-schuur-ed-shaughnessy-and-susie-hansen _______________________________________________________________

"Got a minute? Got two?" No matter where in the world you live, you'll enjoy perusing the two Ads for the upcoming Memorial Service. (1-min visual, 2-min audio) Go to the Home Page. _______________________________________________________________

Roy Gray (www.roygray.com) interviews Mrs. Bellson about “The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson” CD on Roy’s program, "Jazz, Joy and Roy" on “The International Christian Network” (ICN) online Radio Station on
Tues May 26 at 7 pm pacific time
(10 pm eastern). Although Mrs. B's interview isn’t until 7:30, we recommend you set your computer a little before 7 pm so you’ll catch the entire program & interview.

Just click: http://www.theicn.com/online/pages/stations.php?stationID=113187 Then click TUNE IN in orange letters and wait for the broadcast to kick in.
Tell your friends and Enjoy!_______________________________________________________________

• Go to the Schedule page for details of six programs honoring Louie Bellson!
• List of Media coverage of funerals (incl. videos) has moved to the Links page.
• Share your Bellson story in the Guestbook. _______________________________________________________________

Japan's drummer Takeshi Takeuchi, who plays in a Benny Goodman style band, will perform a Salute/Tribute to Louie Bellson at the "Jazz Day Kasukabe" festival April 18 in Kasukabe City, Saitama. www.kasukabe-tmo.com (in Japanese only)

Click these links for the best slideshow tributes to Louie Bellson: Remo . . Zildjian

The Guestbook has been reopened. Search for/add your Bellson testimonial.
See/click Home page for links to the best articles on Bellson’s passing.
Illinois State Rep. Mike Boland has passed a Resolution to honor Louie Bellson's memory in the Illinois House of Representatives. Click here for document text: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=76&GA=96&DocTypeId=HR&DocNum=169&GAID=10&LegID=47290&SpecSess=&Session= _______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B has returned to L.A. from funeralizing and burying her husband in Moline, Illinois, his boyhood home in a plot located next to his father. It was a spiritual “homegoing” with ministerial testimony, music, video and eulogy. Thanks to Bellson’s service as a veteran of WWII, the ceremony was completed at the cemetery with drumroll, taps and a 21-gun salute. (Thank you American Legion!)

The next memorial program will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Jose, Calif. where he was baptized and married. (date TBA)

Mrs. B thanks the multitude of attendees at both the Calif. and Ill. funerals, as well as the hundreds of cards, letters and emails of condolence. And now that she’s back, your Guestbook entries will be posted daily until catch up (earliest first).

Those of you who’ve sent monetary contributions or flowers will be acknowledged by letter soon. To review, you may choose donating to Bellson’s church “Emmanuel Baptist Church” (tax-deductible) or to “Francine Bellson” to help defray expenses. Mail to:
Louie Bellson Legacy
16055 Ventura Blvd. Suite #1212
Encino, CA 91436_______________________________________________________________

Are you sure you’re on our mailing list?
(Unfortunately, sometimes internet “glitches” happen and people get zapped.)
So take a moment to fill out the little box located at the top of the page. If it says you’re already in, relax! If not, let us know who you are. Thanks. . . . Webmaster
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Bel Air Presbyterian Church
16221 Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Thurs Feb 26, 2009 . . . 4:00 pm Visitation . . . 5:00 pm Service
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Esterdahl Mortuary Ltd
6601 38th Avenue
Moline, IL 61265
Tues March 3, 2009 . . . 4:00 – 7:00 pm Visitation
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Bethel Assembly of God Church
3535 38th Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201
Wed March 4, 2009 . . . 12:00 Visitation . . . 1:00 pm Service
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Emmanuel Baptist Church
467 N. White Rd.
San Jose, CA 95127
Memorial Sevice . . . (date TBA) _______________________________________________________
Important! Before sending flowers or attending, be sure to re-check these postings for schedule changes. _______________________________________________________________

We regret to announce the unexpected passing of Louie Bellson on Feb 14, 2009.
Tenative plans are for an L.A. area funeral, followed by funeral and burial in Moline, Illinois, his boyhood home. Also, a memorial service in San Jose later. Details on all events forthcoming.

The Guestbook is now closed to new entries. So, rather than write there, send
Condolence cards to:
Louie Bellson Legacy
16055 Ventura Blvd. Suite #1212
Encino, CA 91436 Contributions in memory of Louie Bellson can be made to:
Emmanuel Baptist Church and mailed to Mrs. Bellson at the address above.
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Mr. Bellson has transferred to a Rehabilitation Facility in L.A. where he resumes a rigorous regimen of physical therapy. . . Praise the Lord (& sign the Guestbook)! _______________________________________________________________

Mr. Bellson remains hospitalized while recovering from his hip-breaking fall.
(See Nov 6 News item below) However, he has been enormously encouraged
by the cheery greeting cards and the 525 entries (to-date) in the Guestbook
that Mrs. B reads to him. So "Thank you!" and "Keep 'em coming!"
<--- (Click globe to write in Guestbook).
For inquirers asking “if there’s anything I can do,”
we repeat our Dec 5 News entry for more ways to...
Show your love for Louie Bellson1. Direct some young person you know to this website so they can learn about a
real American Legend.
2. Obtain Bellson’s self-produced CDs for yourself/friends/family.
. . . . . The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson (big band, symphony, choir) . . . . . Louie & Clark Expedition 2 (big band) . . . Click Gift Shop Have these works affected you? Then let him know!!! (via Guestbook)
3. Reward yourself with Bellson drum cookies (Yum!)
Click Gift Shop or order direct at CookieGarden.com. (Use discount code LB08) 4. Then, sit back and watch the videoclips (17 selections). Click Music/Videos




(Click an image for direct link)_______________________________________________________________

Going to the NAMM Show this week? (Jan 15-18, Anaheim, Calif.) If so, be sure to stop by the Power Wrist Builders booth #2871 to experience this fine Bellson-endorsed product. (Click image). Also available at this booth is the latest
CD, Louie & Clark Expedition 2 and T-shirts. And be on the lookout for the Bellson feature in Sticks 'n' Skins, a beautiful new photography book about the world of drumming to be unveiled at NAMM. www.sticksnskins.com Your patronage and support will surely boost Bellson as he recovers in the hospital from his November accident. Sign the Guestbook on menu at left. (for accident details, start from Nov 6 News entry below)._______________________________________________________________

Louie & Clark Expedition 2 with jazz legend trumpeter Clark Terry comes in at #65 on the "Top 100 Jazz 2008" by JazzWeek, the definitive Jazz and Smooth Jazz national radio airplay chart—a weekly report of the top fifty Jazz and Smooth Jazz recordings played on radio stations across the United States and Canada.
(for sound clips or purchase, click photo) --->
(for Top 100 Chart, click this link) http://www.jazzweek.com/jazztop100_2008.pdf _______________________________________________________________

Each year, Jazz90.1 (Rochester, NY) tabulates the top 100 jazz releases of the year through the number of spins on Jazz90.1 and their staff votes.
Louie & Clark Expedition 2 came in at #44! Take a bow, Mrs. B! (producer) (click) http://www.jazz901.org/485/jazz901-top-100-jazz-releases-of-2008/ _______________________________________________________________

We want to thank all (469 to date) well-wishers for writing in the Guestbook.
You have truly lightened Louie's spirits during his continuing convalescence.
Now take a moment to enjoy our (Louie & my) favorite Yuletide video.
(click) http://www.youtube.com/v/Ooc5eJc5SHA&hl=en&fs=1 _______________________________________________________________

See the latest Bellson Video Clips -- Get your popcorn (or drum cookies) & enjoy! Two more video clips were added to the website,
now bringing the total number to 17.
(Including the historic Bellson/Rich drum battle!)

<--Click Music/Videos at left, or click this image--> and page down the list for your selections.
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Bellson transferred to Hospital for various procedures. After short stay, will return to Rehab Facility. His disposition remains upbeat, like the trooper he is. Stay tuned . . .
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Read this piece about how the Kennedy Center Honors Award seems to avoid jazz legends. (click) http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/12/the-kennedy-cen.html
Remember point #1 in our Dec 5 News entry below?
"1. Direct some young person you know to this website so they can learn about a real American Legend." Well, according to this article, they'll never learn it from the Kennedy Center (tribute program that's aired on national television over the holidays)!
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Early Dec, Mr. Bellson was discharged from the Hospital and transferred to a Rehabilitation Facility in the L.A. area. (Hallelujah!) He has begun a rigorous regimen of physical therapy to get him walking again on that fractured/repaired hip. As you would expect, he remains highly motivated.

There is no phone in the room, and even if there were, you can imagine the adverse effect of numerous phonecalls on him and other patients. So we do truly thank the vast majority of you who are respecting his privacy (thus aiding his convalescence) by responding to our request to sign the Guestbook (which can be batch-printed and presented to him periodically). Also, we love receiving the greeting cards arriving (via Remo, Inc.) . . . Keep ‘em coming! _______________________________________________________________

Mrs. B has received hundreds of communications asking “if there’s anything I can do …” Well, in a word . . . . YES! Since actions speak louder than words, here’s how you can show your love for Louie Bellson:
1. Direct some young person you know to this website so they can learn about a real American Legend.
2. Obtain Bellson’s self-produced CDs for yourself/friends/family this holiday.
The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson (big band, symphony, choir) Louie & Clark Expedition 2 (big band) . . . Click Gift Shop Have these works he composed affected you? Then let him know! (via Guestbook)
3. Reward yourself with Bellson drum cookies (Yum!)
Click Gift Shop or order direct at CookieGarden.com. (Use discount code LB08) 4. Then, sit back and watch the videoclips (15 selections). Click Music/Videos _______________________________________________________________

Early Nov, Mr. Bellson suffered a fall in the L.A. area and was taken to the Hospital. (We'd like to think he was so happy about the election that he jumped up and broke his hip!)
Seriously, though, send your get-well wishes by signing the Guestbook page.
For cards, use the Remo address given on the Contact or Bio page.

And if you’d really like to put a smile on his face (and yours too!) get his latest CD “Louie & Clark Expedition 2” (thru CDBaby or Amazon.) and let him know what you think.
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