National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Ellis Marsalis, Jr.

A man in a tuxedo speaks at a podium
NEA Jazz Master Ellis Marsalis, Jr. at the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert at Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Photo by Frank Stewart
It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of jazz musician and educator Ellis Marsalis, Jr., who in 2011 was honored as an NEA Jazz Master, along with his sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason.

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master McCoy Tyner

A man in a suit poses for a photograph
Photo of McCoy Tyner by Tom Pich

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow Clyde Davenport

A man sits on a porch wearing overalls and holding a fiddle
Portrait of 1992 National Heritage Fellow Clyde Davenport by Tom Pich.

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow Henry Gray

A man in a gray suit wearing a gold medal with a red, blue, and yellow ribbon stands next to a woman in a red suit.
2006 National Heritage Fellow Henry Gray receives a medal in honor of his Fellowship, presented by Dr. Joyce Marie Jackson, Louisiana State University folklorist/ethnomusicologist and director of Cultural Crossroads, Inc. Gray’s original award was lost in the 2016 Baton Rouge flood and Jackson worked with the National Endowment for the Arts to present him with this replacement in 2018. Photo by Eric Waters

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath

A man stands on a stage holding a saxophone
2003 NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath performs at the 2013 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert on January 14, 2013 at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Photo by Michael G. Stewart

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on Ernest Gaines

A man wearing a hat smiles while looking at the camera
Photo courtesy of Ernest Gaines

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of 1990 NEA National Heritage Fellow Marie McDonald

Marie McDonald 1990. Photo by Tom Pich
Marie McDonald 1990. Photo by Tom Pich

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA National Heritage Fellow Norma Miller

A woman wearing a red shirt and brightly sequined hat and vest speaks into a microphone.
Norma Miller at the 2003 NEA National Heritage Fellowships Awards Ceremony. Photo by Jim Saah

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA National Heritage Fellow Marion Coleman

A woman stands smiling with a quilt hanging behind her.
Marion Coleman at the 2018 NEA National Heritage Fellowships Concert. Photo by Tom Pich

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA National Heritage Fellow Mac Wiseman

A man wearing a cowboy hat sits in a chair with a guitar next to him.
Portrait of 2008 NEA National Heritage Fellow Mac Wiseman by Tom Pich
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