Ellis Marsalis, Jr., beloved musician, performer, educator, composer, arranger and mentor to hundreds of musicians worldwide, died this evening, reportedly of complications from COVID-19. He was 85.

Ellis Marsalis by artist Tim Neil

Mr. Marsalis, along with four of his sons (Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason), comprised the creme de la creme of New Orleans jazz royalty.  Marsalis, who won numerous awards throughout his lifetime, was the recipient of OffBeat‘s 2014 Best of The Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music and in 2001 for Music Education. After teaching at NOCCA and other universities and music programs, Marsalis created the University of New Orleans Jazz Studies program, along with fellow music and educator Harold Battiste. Marsalis also performed regularly at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street for many years, until he retired from regular performances earlier this year due to health issues. In 2018, Marsalis received the Jazz Hero Award from the New Orleans chapter of the Jazz Journalists Association. At the time, the Association said, “It would be difficult to overstate the impact pianist, educator and 2011 NEA Jazz Master Ellis Marsalis Jr. has had on modern jazz in New Orleans…Ellis Marsalis Jr., by staying in New Orleans, not only changed music history, he’s made it.  His lifelong, selfless yet creative commitment to our city and to the music that continues to come from it makes him a true Jazz Hero.”

The music center in the Habitat for Humanity’s New Orleans Musicians Village is also named for Mr. Marsalis.

It’s very difficult to imagine New Orleans jazz without Ellis Marsalis. “This is a Smithsonian-level loss,” said David Torkanowsky, who worked and collaborated with Mr. Marsalis many times over the years.

Ellis, we will always miss you, and so will musicians and friends all over the world. Our sincerest condolences to your family.