Ellis Marsalis, Jr. was born on November 14, 1934 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Marsalis was trained in music formally. When he was 11, he started studying music at the Xavier University junior school of music. Even though he grew up in New Orleans in his youth he had no interest in Dixieland music. He was drawn to bebop, especially the music of Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon. After high school, Marsalis attended Dillard University where he majored in clarinet.

A few years after graduating from college, Marsalis joined the Marines. This is where he started honing his piano skills. He was stationed in California and started playing piano on a TV show called “Dress Blues” and a radio show called “Leatherneck Song Book.” These were both Marine Corps shows.

Here’s a performance he did in 1992 in Spain.