Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis is the premier modern jazz pianist in the New Orleans area, and is a highly esteemed pianist around the world. Ellis, the head of the famous Marsalis family, started his music education at the age of 11 at Xavier University junior school of music. After graduating from high school, he went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Dillard University. Marsalis really began his career as a pianist when he entered the U.S. Marine Corps. On televisions shows and radio shows he constantly perfected his skills as a pianist. After finishing his time in the Marines, he returned home, married, and had six sons.
Marsalis performed at many clubs between 1966 and 1974, such as the Playboy Club in New Orleans, the Al Hirt night club, and the Lu and Charles night club. During this time, he began to teach again at Xavier University as an adjunct professor. After receiving a master’s degree from Loyola University, he was hired to teach in the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts high school. After this, he would work as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, occupy the first Coca Cola endowed chair of Jazz Studies as a director, and receive honorary doctorate degrees from Dillard University and Ball State University.
Some notable appearances include NBC’s “Today” with Bryant Gumbel, the “Tonight” show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Marsalis has many recordings on CBS-Sony, but is now developing his own label with his wife, Dolores and son, Jason, called ELM Records.
