Louie Bellson

Referred to by jazz critic Leonard Feather as "one of the most phenomenal drummers in history," Louie Bellson has expressed himself on drums since age three. At 15, he pioneered the double bass drum set-up. At 17, he triumphed over 40,000 drummers to win the Gene Krupa drumming contest. Louie has performed on more than 200 albums, with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Wayne Newton, and Bellson's late wife, Pearl Bailey.

"His ability to cover the whole musical spectrum, from an elite percussionist to a very gifted composer and arranger, never ceases to amaze me. I consider him one of the musical giants of our age." - Oscar Peterson

Monty Alexander

Composer and author, Louie has written more than 300 compositions and more than a dozen books on drums and percussion. He received the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994 and is a six-time Grammy nominee.

In 1998, Louie was hailed (along with Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, and Max Roach) as one of the four "Living Legends of Music" when he received the American Drummers Achievement Award from the Zildjian Company.

Louie and his wife, Francine, live in California... that is, when they're not on the road! Frequently they perform their joint presentation "The Physicist and the Percussionist." On occasion Louie's daughter, vocalist Dee Dee Bellson, has been available to accompany his band.

The 4th annual Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival – presented by Paradise Cadillac, the City of Temecula, Riverside County 3rd district supervisor Jeff Stone, Paul & Diane Garrett; Altura Credit Union, and Co-Sponsored by DownBeat & KSDS 88.3, is also accepting submissions for the Chuck Niles Jazz Music Award Competition.

Thousands of jazz enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs will be treated to free performances by legendary artists including US Congressional Certificate of Recognition of Lifetime Achievement recipients. The Chuck Niles Jazz Music Award, and music Legends like Ritchie Cole, Dick Berk, renowned Canadian band leader Tom Lavin with the Powder Blues band, and much more. Attendees will be treated to an experience in Old Town Temecula with multiple stages up and down Front Street, Clinics, Workshop, and performances including our opening night kick-off party in the new Old Town Community Theater with Monty Alexander, Holly Hofmann, Mike Wofford, Jeff Hamilton and more..., and the closure of Main Street for free concerts with Tom Lavin & the Powder Blues Band on Saturday night. As melodic jazz riffs soar through the valley, the presentation unfolds before them. Past performers include: Cybill Shepherd, Horace Silver, Sammy Nestico, Ernestine Anderson, Mose Allison, Richie Cole, Holly Hofmann, Mike Wofford, Jeff Hamilton, Dick Berk, Julio Figueroa, Paula West, Ranee Lee, Tad Weed, Marshall Hawkins, Jennifer Scott, John Worley, and hundreds of many others - over 200 musicians. For complete information visit www.TemeculaJazzFest.com

"Louie is a superb artist. There's so much hyperbole you can use, but he's just one of the top drummers...percussionists in the world. And one other thing about Louie: he is a sweet, nice man. There are no pretensions about Louie, and I like that." - Johnny Carson