Home / Arts and Entertainment / Milwaukee Jazz Legend Manty Ellis Dies at 93
Milwaukee Jazz Legend Manty Ellis Dies at 93
11 Jul
Summary
- Grover "Manty" Ellis, a revered jazz guitarist, passed away at age 93.
- He was instrumental in founding an accredited jazz program at Wisconsin Conservatory.
- Ellis was honored with the Jazz Fellowship Award in 2025.
Grover "Manty" Ellis, widely known as the godfather of Milwaukee Jazz, passed away at the age of 93 on Thursday, July 9. Born in Milwaukee's Bronzeville in 1933, Ellis developed his musical talents in a household filled with music, eventually mastering the guitar.
Ellis's career included shaping the next generation of musicians, teaching notable artists like Grammy winner Brian Lynch. In 1971, he co-founded an accredited jazz program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, which ran until 1984. He also opened the Manty Ellis Music Center, a hub for jazz performances.
His profound contributions to jazz were acknowledged in 2025 when he received the Jazz Fellowship Award from the Jazz Foundation of America. Ellis continued to perform throughout his life and served on the Milwaukee Jazz Institute's board of directors until his death.
