Mrs. B

Bellson & Carson introduce the future Mrs. B to the world!

(A Moment in Time -- The Tonight Show, 1992)

After performing with the Tonight Show orchestra, best buds Louie Bellson & Johnny Carson chat, revealing Bellson's engagement (Click photo to play clip of chat)

Who is "Mrs. B"?

The Indomitable Mrs. Bellson

Mrs. Bellson, nee Francine Wright, was an Earlham/Harvard/M.I.T. educated physicist/engineer working in Silicon Valley (Calif.) when she met Louie Bellson on a Jazz Cruise in '91.  They married in '92.

They traveled the world, he performing and recording, and she selling and creating memorabilia for the gigs.  She eventually became his manager, publicist and photographer. She developed the document "Gig Guidelines" which Louie hailed as a godsend and was modeled after by other artists.

She produced Bellson's last two CDs, "The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson & the Jazz Ballet" and "Louie & Clark Expedition 2" on his Percussion Power label.  (Go to our CD Store page.) 

 

 

Louie Bellson collaborated with pal trumpeter Clark Terry on their last joint project: the album "Louie & Clark Expedition 2" (named and produced by Mrs. B).  The three are pictured here at the 2007 NYC recording session.

 

Subsequent to Bellson's Feb, 2009 passing, Mrs. B became archivist and manager of both the Louie Bellson and Pearl Bailey estates including handling royalties, permissions, etc.

 

Further, she has since returned to her Silicon Valley roots where she is active in engineering society, technical and faith activities.  She has tutored in physics and developed a math curriculum for her Church's Youth Writing & Math Skills Workshop.

 

The Physicist & the Percussionist

Louie Bellson’s first wife was the celebrated vocalist/actress Pearl Bailey for whom he was musical director.

After Pearl’s passing, he met & married Francine.  Hear Bellson tell it in his own words! Click Bellson Speaks

NOTE: Mrs. B was an Earlham / Harvard / M.I.T. educated physicist / engineer when she and Bellson married (1992).

Mr. & Mrs. Bellson developed a joint talk entitled, “The Physicist & the Percussionist" which they performed at school events nationwide.  An inspirational career presentation exploring the relationship between music and science, it was always enthusiastically received by both students and parents alike.

Backstage Interview

Keeping Up w/ Mrs. B!

[Feb 2023] Living Legend Interview

Emmanuel Baptist Church, San Jose, Calif.
Mrs. B was interviewed by her Pastor as one of 4 “Living Legends” for one of the church’s Black History Month Sunday presentations.

CLICK: Clip shown at church (10 min)

CLICK: Full Interview (40 min)

[Feb 2021]  Mrs. B authorizes publication of Bellson Poetry Book

"The Poetic Thoughts & Verses of Louie Bellson"

Featuring the insights & musings of Louie Bellson
Produced by Hudson Music ~ Licensed by Mrs. B

Louie Bellson had a little-known passion for writing poetry. (“Who knew?”)
Hudson Music is proud to publish the prose and poetry of Louie Bellson, a man universally loved as a gentle and kind soul—as well as a towering figure in the world of drumming. Available at HudsonMusic.com.

 

[Jan 2021]  Mrs. B contributes Bellson charts to international repertoire

 

www.iJazzMusic.com 

LOUIE BELLSON CHARTS AT iJAZZMUSIC

Digital download of music charts
Featuring Outstanding Composers from Europe, Asia, South America & the United States.

iJazzMusic is part of JEA (Jazz Education Abroad).
A not-for-profit organization, JEA’s mission is to increase the awareness of American Jazz music through cultural music education to youth worldwide.

   

For several months, Mrs. B "burned the midnight oil" to make deadline for contribution to this new Site. (Whew!) As she herself is not a musician, this involved meticulous collaboration with members of Team Bellson*.
*A.A. & J.C. They're so modest! -- go to our CONTACT Page to learn about them.

Louie Bellson Charts at iJazzMusic

 

[Feb 2020]  Mrs. B Speaks at Evergreen Valley College

" Achievement Against the Odds"

Biographical career Speech to Black History Program at Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, where she’d once taught as an adjunct professor of math. Mrs. B related how a solid background in the sciences had well-prepared her to work on diverse technical products including photolithography at Fairchild, micro-channel plates at Varian; laser printer, bubble memory and DASD components at IBM.

[May 2019]  Mrs. B gets "Key to City" at Bellson Music Concert

Sterling Municipal Band Spring Concert of Bellson Music

featuring Guest artist Josh Duffee  ~  Wed May 1, 2019    Sterling, Illinois

 

At the concert, Mayor Lee presents Duffee and Mrs. B with "Keys to the City" of Sterling, Illinois.

Recently, Mrs. B donated one of the Louie Bellson drumsets to Mr. Josh Duffee, a noted Illinois musician and historian.

For details, watch this inspiring News video! (1:51)

 

 

[Sept 2018]  Mrs. B @ Silicon Valley's Computer History Museum

From STEM to STEAM: How an Engineer Wrote a Play 

Screening of the science film Humanity Needs Dreamers: A Visit with Marie Curie. 9-7-18

Marie Curie (left) and Susan Marie Frontczak as Marie Curie (right)

The film was followed by a lively panel discussion – “From Stem to Steam” exploring the intersection of STEM and the performing arts—and why STEAM is vital in shaping global opportunities in the 21st century.

As panelist, Mrs. B, drew parallels between her life and Mme. Curie’s; as well as relating her (Mrs. B’s) Stem/Steam life transition from scientist to artist manager.  Panelists included:

Dale DeBakcsy, writer/artist for Women in Science, the Cartoon History of Humanism and Frederick the Great.  www.womenyoushouldknow.net

Susan Marie Frontczak, the film’s solo performer, engineer & playwright.  www.storysmith.org

Francine Bellson, physicist/engineer & wife/manager of jazz drummer Louie Bellson, the "Physicist & the Percussionist".  www.louiebellson.com

Jen Myronuk, the film’s producer & director, founder of Stem-On-Stage.  www.stemonstage.org

 

[Oct 2017]  Mrs. B speaks at M.I.T. (her alma-mater!)

  

 

At the screening of a new film “Humanity Needs Dreamers – A Visit with Marie Curie” Mrs. B details the many parallels between Madame Curie’s & her own beginnings of becoming a scientist while overcoming limitations, political, social constraints, etc.

Link to full story

 

Mrs. B addresses the Society of Women Engineers

SWE Local, San Jose, CA  (2-24-2017)

   

 

Mrs. B remembers Challenger Mission Specialist Dr. Ronald McNair

Black History Month presentation at Emmanuel Baptist Church, San Jose, Calif. (2-7-16)

 

 

Presentation on 30th Anniv. of Challenger Space Shuttle Tragedy

"Turning an Awful Memory into a Symbol of Hope

Speech given by Francine Bellson at the Jan 14, 2016 meeting of the IEEE Silicon Valley Technical History Committee, San Jose, Calif.

 

 

Mrs. B Unveils Memorials

Bellson Oil Portrait

Watch 4 min. video clip of Mrs. B at the unveiling of the stunning portrait of Louie Bellson by artist Michael Del Priore.  Chicago Drum Show coordinator Rob Cook presides (May 18, 2013)

 

Bellson Gravestone

WQAD-TV News story on May 20, 2010.  Unveiling of the Louie Bellson Monument in his boyhood home and final resting place of Moline, Illinois (Quad-Cities).  

Watch Newsclip  >>

 

 

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