Hall Of Fame: 1985 One thing never changes—Louie Bellson’s constant desire to change. When I interviewed Louie for MD five years ago, that fact struck me. When we got together recently, that aspect remained most blatant. His open mind and continual quest to keep abreast of the times have certainly made him one of the foremost drummers in the world today. Let’s face it: Here is a man who could very easily have rested on any one of his laurels. He began playing with Ted FioRito, and he replaced Gene Krupa in Benny Goodman’s band by the time he was 17 years old. He continued to play for such legends as Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Duke Ellington, after which he began his own successful band. While change has been at the crux of his musical orientation, one thing that hasn’t changed is Louie himself. He has always been […]

January 1986 Issue