Ellis Marsalis

Ellis Marsalis had a firm idea how to bring out the best music in people, even before his famous sons were born.  His understanding of music theory and notation became the cornerstone of his own career as a musician and that of an unofficial music teacher. Just a few years after Hurricane Katrina flooded the 9th Ward neighborhood that Ellis once called his home, he opened a music center to encourage music making!  With the support of his family as well as Harry Connick Jr. and the local government, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music began providing lesson programs, computer classes, recording engineering training and live events in its large music hall. When visiting the center one thing is clear, each and every day the musical passion of Ellis Marsalis is touching someone.