Ernest Elly

Drummer. Born on June 16, 1942 in New Orleans. Toured with Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Doc Cheatham. Has only been in the Dixieland idiom since around 1970. Played in George French's Storyville Jazz Band of New Orleans and continues to feature in The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. From swing to modern jazz to rhythm & blues to gospel, Elly’s dragging of downbeats and bending of time carries a heavy blues aesthetic into all that he does.