Bellson who started his musical career while still a teenager, is best known for his performances as a big band drummer when he worked with jazz legends like Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Duke Ellington, during the 1940's and 50's.
Bellson went on to receive six Grammy nominations and won the coveted American Jazz Masters Award in 1994.
Bellson who was born as Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, on July 6, 1924, in Illinois
began his lessons in music at the tender age of 3, after being encouraged by his father who owned a music store.
The newspaper paid tribute to the artiste, by quoting former Times jazz critic Leonard Feather who wrote in 1991, "What makes Bellson so special, is his overall musicianship. A gifted composer and arranger who has written everything from jazz instrumentals to ballets, he can incorporate his role logically instead of banging away without regard to the dynamic or melodic structure of the work in progress."
Bellson is survived by his wife of 16 years, Francine and daughters Dee Dee Bellson and Debra Hughes.
