[Dixielandjazz] Ellis Marsalis Sr Obit

[Steve barbone]

Here, scant as it is, is the Ellis Marsalis Sr. Obit:

September 24, 2004 - New York Times

Ellis Marsalis Sr., 96, Jazzmen's Patriarch, Dies
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 23 (AP) - Ellis L. Marsalis Sr., the patriarch of a
family of renowned jazz musicians, including his grandson the trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis, died here on Sunday. He was 96.

The D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home announced his death.

Mr. Marsalis' son, Ellis Jr., is a prominent New Orleans pianist and music
professor who mentored four musician sons: Wynton; Branford, a saxophonist;
Delfeayo, a trombonist; and Jason, a drummer.

Mr. Marsalis Sr. was involved in the civil rights movement through ownership
of the Marsalis Motel in suburban New Orleans; its guests included the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr., the New York congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.,
the future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and musicians like Ray
Charles. Business dwindled after civil rights legislation allowed blacks to
stay at formerly all-white inns.

Mr. Marsalis also helped found the Boosters Club, which helped blacks
register to vote.

He is survived by his son; a daughter, Yvette M. Washington; seven
grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.