Wow: TIH - Ellis Marsalis

Today is the birthday of a preeminent musician and patriarch of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, jazz families in history, Ellis Marsalis.

From an NPR Jazz Profile on Ellis Marsalis...

When the subject of jazz comes up these days, the name Marsalis is soon sure to follow. Brothers Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason have all reached international fame. But before they found success, their father Ellis was shaping his own career as a jazz pianist and composer.

In addition, Ellis Marsalis has become one of the most renowned music educators in the U.S., imparting his extensive knowledge of jazz to students like pianist and vocalist Harry Connick, Jr., trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and of course, his four sons.

Happy Birthday Ellis.