Jazz Foundation honors Milwaukee’s Manty Ellis with $100k fellowship

Milwaukee jazz legend Manty Ellis has been named one of 20 inaugural fellows for the prestigious Jazz Legacies Fellowship, a groundbreaking initiative launched by the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) in partnership with the Mellon Foundation.

Ellis, 92, known as the cornerstone of Milwaukee jazz, will receive a lifetime achievement award and an unrestricted grant of $100,000 as part of the fellowship. The program, which represents part of a larger $35 million initiative to support jazz preservation, will provide fellows with additional resources including masterclass opportunities, production assistance, and legal and financial counsel.

Born in 1933 in a house on North 5th Street, Ellis played a pivotal role in shaping Milwaukee’s vibrant jazz scene. In his early years, he was a regular presence in the thriving jazz clubs along Walnut Street, which formed the heart of Milwaukee’s African American music community. Ellis fondly recalled the vibrant atmosphere of those days, describing how people would change clothes in the evening and gather on Walnut Street between 6th and 10th, moving from club to club throughout the night.

In 1971, Ellis made a lasting impact on music education when he co-founded the jazz studies program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music with Tony King. The program focused on introducing under-resourced Milwaukee students to jazz, providing them opportunities to study under instructors from New York City and Chicago.

Ellis also owned the Manty Ellis Music Center, which became a legendary gathering spot for visiting jazz luminaries. The store regularly hosted impromptu performances by renowned musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, and Sonny Stitt. His influence extended beyond Milwaukee, as he performed with numerous jazz giants including Eddie Harris, Stanley Turrentine, and Richard Davis.

The Jazz Legacies Fellowship, administered by JFA’s team led by Program Director Veronika Châtelain, will support 50 seasoned jazz artists aged 62 and older over the next four years. The inaugural class represents a diverse range of musical styles and instruments, from avant-garde to hard bop and fusion.

Ellis joins an impressive roster of fellow recipients, including celebrated artists such as George Cables, Valerie Capers, and Reggie Workman. The fellows were selected through a rigorous process involving input from over 100 musicians, presenters, educators, and organizers, considering factors such as creativity, generational impact, and the realities of being a working jazz musician in America.

Full list of 2025 Fellows

Valerie Capers, 89, pianist, Bronx, NY
Groundbreaking artist-educator melding classical and jazz

George Coleman, 89, saxophonist, New York, NY
Peerless soloist from fabled ‘50s Memphis scene and bridge between jazz eras

Akua Dixon, 76, cellist, Westchester, NY
String specialist who blazed new trails in all styles of music

Manty Ellis, 92, guitarist, Milwaukee, WI
Local icon known as the Godfather of Milwaukee Jazz

Tom Harrell, 78, trumpeter, New York, NY
Beloved bandleader-soloist with a deep emotional resonance

Billy Hart, 84, drummer, Montclair, NJ
Hero of jazz rhythm and esteemed mentor known to fans worldwide as “Jabali”

Bertha Hope, 88, pianist, New York, NY
Bebop torchbearer and pioneering advocate for women in jazz

Roger Humphries, 81, drummer, Pittsburgh, PA
Jazz phenom who committed career to nurturing his hometown scene

Carmen Lundy, 70, vocalist, Los Angeles, CA
Multi-instrumentalist and composer who sets a standard for artistic independence

Amina Claudine-Myers 82, pianist, New York, NY
Avant-garde legend firmly grounded in gospel and blues traditions

Roscoe Mitchell, 84, multireedist, Fitchburg, WI
Illustrious experimental composer and educator; Art Ensemble of Chicago mainstay

Johnny O’Neal, 68, pianist, New York, NY
A musicians’ musician with a “million-dollar touch”

Shannon Powell, 62, drummer, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans jazz ambassador known as the King of Tremé

Julian Priester, 89, trombonist, Seattle, WA 
Multifaceted jazz virtuoso and invaluable educator

Dizzy Reece, 94, trumpeter, Bronx, NY
Enigmatic musical metaphysician whose influence spans generations

Herlin Riley, 68, drummer, New Orleans, LA
Irrepressible bandleader bringing the rhythm of New Orleans to the world

Michele Rosewoman, 71, pianist, New York, NY
Singular composer, bandleader and teacher fusing jazz, Cuban folkloric sounds

Dom Salvador, 87, pianist, Long Island, NY
Brazilian visionary who fuses samba, jazz and funk

Reggie Workman, 87, bassist, New York, NY
Master artist-educator; jazz luminary for nearly 70 years