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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMARSALIS, Ellis(b Ellis Louis Marsalis, 14 November 1934, New Orleans LA; d 1 April 2020 of Covid-19) Pianist and teacher. Began on clarinet as a child; his celebrated local career as a teacher included leading the jazz program at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts for high school students, where he mentored young men like Terence Blanchard and Harry Connick, and culminated as founding director of Jazz Studies at the U. of New Orleans '89, as well as raising the famous clan, the four successful musical sons including Delfeayo, a trombonist, and drummer Jason, as well as Branford and Wynton. But he always saw himself as a student: 'I don't buy the idea that colleges are just for young people', he said.
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