Manty Ellis, the 'Godfather of Milwaukee Jazz', passes away at 93, leaving behind generational music legacy
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Milwaukee's music community is mourning the loss of Grover Edwin "Manty" Ellis, a legendary jazz guitarist, who died Thursday at the age of 93.
Ellis was born in 1933 in what's now known as the city's Bronzeville neighborhood.
According to the Milwaukee Jazz Institute (MJI), Ellis was always musically inclined, even as a child.
In 1971, he and pianist Tony King founded an accredited jazz program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He also opened a music store on the city's north side that became a hub where artists would stop by and play.
Along the way, Ellis taught hundreds of students over the decades, some of whom became notable jazz musicians known throughout the world.
Even up until his death, Ellis kept playing, and in 2025, the Jazz Foundation of America granted him the Jazz Fellowship Legacy Award.
Those close to him said Ellis was "very strong-minded" with a sense of humor, and many referred to him as the "Godfather of Milwaukee Jazz."
"Manty believed that we should play from the heart, but combine that with intellect, and he had a keen knowledge of music theory," said Mark Davis, artistic director for the MJI. "Manty was a beloved figure in Milwaukee. He was an incredible jazz musician and marvelous teacher."
Davis recalled meeting Ellis when he was a teenager himself.
"He wanted to pass the music along," Davis said. "Manty was the leader of the jazz community, and no one has done what he's done for the city."
Another former student of Manty's, Bailey Strasser, said the mentor-mentee relationship they fostered together was remarkable.
"Any time I talked with him, it's just light comes in, and you just feel nothing but happiness," Strasser said. "[Milwaukee] jazz exists solely because of Manty Ellis."
Strasser, who is a trombonist, remembered Ellis for being one of his biggest inspirations in life.
"All these people I've played with, they all root back to Manty Ellis, and every single jazz legend that's out there in the world from Milwaukee, Manty was the guy that taught them how to be good," Strasser said. "I'm absolutely thankful to have been able to know him."
And for those he taught, or for those he played for, his legacy isn't just found in his music — it plays on through everyone he came across.
"I hope Manty felt loved, and I think he did," Davis said. "He's someone we should remember."
Officials said funeral arrangements will be announced when they become available.