[7] After graduating from Moline High School in 1942, he worked with big bands throughout the 1940s, with Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Duke Ellington.

[8] Over the years, his sidemen included Ray Brown, Pete and Conte Candoli, Chuck Findley, John Heard, Roger Ingram, Don Menza, Blue Mitchell, Larry Novak, Nat Pierce, Frank Rosolino, Bobby Shew, Clark Terry, and Snooky Young.

In an interview in 2005 with Jazz Connection magazine, he cited as influences Jo Jones, Sid Catlett, and Chick Webb.

"Ellington told Louie, 'You ought to do a sacred concert of your own' and so it was," said Bellson, adding, "'The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson' combines symphony, big band and choir, while 'The Jazz Ballet' is based on the vows of Holy Matrimony..."[11] On December 5, 1971, he took part in a memorial concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall for drummer Frank King.

[9] On February 14, 2009, Bellson died at age 84 from complications of a broken hip suffered in December 2008 and Parkinson's disease.

He was remembered by The Mercury News as, "the legendary San Jose drummer and band leader who played with jazz greats for more than six decades.

[14] As a prolific creator of music, both written and improvised, his compositions and arrangements (in the hundreds) embrace jazz, jazz/rock/fusion, romantic orchestral suites, symphonic works and a ballet.

The three-part work includes a choral section in which a 12-voice choir sings lyrics penned by Bellson.

[9] In 1987, at the Percussive Arts Society convention in Washington, D.C., Bellson and Harold Farberman performed a major orchestral work titled "Concerto for Jazz Drummer and Full Orchestra", the first piece ever written specifically for jazz drummer and full symphony orchestra.

[9] Bellson was known throughout his career to conduct drum and band clinics at high schools, colleges and music stores.

He performed his original concert – Tomus I, II, III – with the Washington Civic Symphony in historic Constitution Hall in 1993.

A combination of full symphony orchestra, big-band ensemble and 80-voice choir, "Tomus" was a collaboration of music by Bellson and lyrics by his late wife, Pearl Bailey.

[19] As one of three recipients, he was lauded by NEA chair Jane Alexander, who said, "These colossal talents have helped write the history of jazz in America.

With Count Basie With Count Basie and Oscar Peterson With Count Basie and Zoot Sims With James Brown With Benny Carter With Buddy Collette With Duke Ellington With Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong With Herb Geller With Dizzy Gillespie With Stephane Grappelli With Johnny Hodges With Harry James With Oscar Peterson With Mel Powell With Linda Ronstadt With Sonny Stitt With Toni Tennille With The Trumpet Kings With Big Joe Turner With Sarah Vaughan With Ben Webster With Joe Williams