March 24, 2025

Ellis Marsalis Jr. Biography, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Wiki & More

Updated On : April 3, 2020

Short Biography

Ellis Marsalis Jr. was born on 14-11-1934 in New Orleans in the state of Louisiana, United States. He was an American Musician, Educator & Recording Artist.

Other Name: Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr.
Other Professions: Educator Recording Artist

Ellis Marsalis Jr. Complete Bio & Career

Ellis  Marsalis Jr, was a jazz pianist, teacher and patriarch of New Orleans musical clan died on Wednesday after battling pneumonia brought by the new coronavirus. As a musician Marsalis started out as a tenor saxophonist, switching to piano while in high school. From his first professional performance with "The Groovy Boys" over fifty years ago, he has been a major influence in jazz. At that time, he was one of the few New Orleans musicians who did not specialize in Dixieland or rhythm and blues. He played with fellow modernists including Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, and Al Hirt, becoming one of the most respected pianists in jazz.
 
His didactic approach, combined with an interest in philosophy, encourages his students to make discoveries in music on their own, through experiment and very careful listening. Active since the late 1940s, Marsalis came to greater attention in the 1980s and '90s as the patriarch of a musical family that was rising to international acclaim. As a leading educator at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, the University of New Orleans, and Xavier University of Louisiana, he has influenced the careers of countless musicians, including Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick Jr., Nicholas Payton; as well as his four musician sons: Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason.
 
In 2007, Marsalis received an honorary doctorate from Tulane University for his contributions to jazz and musical education. In 2008, Ellis Marsalis was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music at Musicians' Village in New Orleans is named in honor of him. In 2010, The Marsalis Family released a live album titled Music Redeems, which was recorded at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC as part of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.

Ellis Marsalis Jr. Popular Videos

Health Issues, Illness and Death Info

Ellis Marsalis Jr. died on 01-04-2020 at a hospital in New Orleans in the state of Louisiana, United States. He was found coronavirus positive and admitted in a hospital. But due to old age, he was unable to fight with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and got infected with pneumonia and finally died on 01-04-2020 at the age of 85.

DEATHDAY 1 April,2020 (Tuesday)
DEATH PLACE New Orleans, Louisiana
DEATH COUNTRY United States

Ellis Marsalis Jr. Family, Relatives and Other Relations

He was born to a businessman Ellis Marsalis Sr. and Florence Robertson. He had a sister named Yvette Marsalis. He was married to Dolores Marsalis in 1959. His wife died on 18-07-2017. The couple was blessed with six sons named Wynton Marsalis (Trumpeter), Branford Marsalis (Saxophonist), Delfeayo Marsalis (Trombonist), Jason Marsalis (Drummer), Ellis Marsalis III (Poet) & Mboya Kenyatta Marsalis.

Ellis Marsalis Jr. Biography, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Wiki & More
Ellis Marsalis Jr. Family Photos

Life's Important Dates Of Ellis Marsalis Jr.

Body Measurements

Skin Colour Black
Eye Colour Black
Hair Colour Salt & Pepper

Personal Info

Home Town New Orleans, Louisiana
Nationality American
Religion Christian
Address New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
School N/A
College Dillard University, New Orleans
Qualification Graduate
Hobbies Travelling
Marital Status Married
Debut First Album - Syndrome (1985)
Salary N/A
Net Worth N/A
Official Website N/A

Favourites

Favorite Color Black
Favorite Sport Basketball
Favorite Actress Will Smith
Favorite Place New York

Shocking / Interesting Facts & Secrets About Ellis Marsalis Jr.

  • He played saxophone during high school but switched to piano while studying classical music at Dillard University.
  • Though he recorded almost twenty of his own albums and was featured on many discs with other veteran musicians.
  • He was seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.

Ellis Marsalis Jr. Age, Birthday Facts and Birthday Countdown

Ellis Marsalis Jr. was 85 years 4 months & 17 days old age.