Manty Ellis Birthday Celebration

Celebrate the 90th birthday of Milwaukee jazz legend Manty Ellis at Sam's Place Jazz Cafe. Members of the MJI faculty will be performing, and there will be cake for all to enjoy. Free admission. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. RSVP to leave a birthday message for Manty (whether you can attend or not)!

Manty Ellis is a legendary Milwaukee-born guitarist widely regarded as the godfather of Milwaukee jazz.

Manty was born on January 16, 1933, in a house on North 5th Street, and as a young man, he was an early player in the local jazz scene and part of the thriving jazz clubs on Walnut Street that had an impact on Milwaukee's black community.

In 1971, Manty and fellow musician Tony King founded an accredited jazz studies program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where Manty taught until 1984. He has continued to teach and mentor generations of musicians. 

In 2019, Ellis was honored with an official proclamation from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, declaring April 27 "Manty Ellis Day."

Today, Manty is a valued board member of the Milwaukee Jazz Institute, and we're honored to celebrate him and his contributions to the jazz scene in Milwaukee.