Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
November 14, 1934 – April 1, 2020
It is with the deepest sorrow that we share the passing of master pianist and cherished educator, Ellis Marsalis.
He began playing at Snug in the early 1980’s and became a staple resident by the mid-80s, retiring from his long-running Friday night concert series in December of 2019 at the age of 85. Though, Ellis would never say “retire,” as there was still more music to play.
Ellis now joins his beloved wife Dolores (Ferdinand) Marsalis, and is survived by their six sons; Branford, Wynton, Ellis III, Delfeayo, Mboya, and Jason. He will forever stand as a foundation pillar of the Snug Harbor musical legacy, his reach as a teacher is endless among generations of students who will continue to play our stage.
Our hearts go out to the Marsalis family and the musicians in our community. We pledge to keep his spirit alive, our piano patriarch.
