Eddy Louiss

Eddy Louiss (2 May 1941 – 30 June 2015) was a French jazz musician.

Career Eddy started playing in his father Pierre's orchestra in the 1950s. Pierre changed the family name from Louise to Louiss. As a vocalist, he was a member of Les Double Six of Paris from 1961 through 1963. During this time his primary instrument became the Hammond organ.

In 1964, he was awarded the Prix Django Reinhardt.

For 13 years, between 1964 and 1977, he played with leading French musician Claude Nougaro. After that, he made the decision, one that his son Pierre described as "not that easy", to split from Nougaro to head out on a solo career. In 1971 he was a member of the Stan Getz quartet (with René Thomas and Bernard Lubat) that recorded the Getz album Dynasty (1971). The song became a popular composition among gymnasts and figure skaters. It was used in competition by Silvia Mitova, Maya Usova and Alexander Zhulin, Daisuke Takahashi, among others.

Eddy Louiss had his left leg amputated in the early 1990s after suffering artery problems, following which he made few public appearances.

In duet, he recorded with pianist Michel Petrucciani (1994) and accordionist Richard Galliano (2002). His later recordings, such as Sentimental Feeling and Récit proche, combined jazz with rock and world music.

Discography Jazz Long Playing with Daniel Humair and Jean-Luc Ponty (1964) Trio HLP with Daniel Humair and Jean-Luc Ponty (All Life, 1966) Eddy Louiss Trio with Kenny Clarke, René Thomas (1968) Our Kind of Sabi with John Surman, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Daniel Humair, 1970 Orgue, Vols. 1 & 2, with Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Guy Pedersen (America, 1971) Bohemia After Dark, with Jimmy Gourley, Guy Pedersen, Kenny Clarke, 1973 Histoire Sans Parole, 1979 Sang mêlé, 1987 Eddy Louiss/Michel Petrucciani (live), 1994 Conférence de presse with Michel Petrucciani, 1994 Conférence de presse, Vol. 2, 1995 Louissiana, 1995 Floméla with Marc Bertaux, Tony Bonfils, Steve Ferrone, Bob Garcia, Jo Maka, Luigi Trussardi, Jean-Louis Viale, 1996 Multicolor Feeling Fanfare, 1989 WéBé, 2000 Recit Proche with Xavier Cobo, Jean Marie Ecay, Paco Sery, 2001 Jazz in Paris: Bohemia After Dark with Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Guy Pedersen, 2001 Jazz in Paris: Porgy & Bess 2001 Face to Face with Richard Galliano, 2001 Ô Toulouse...Hommage à Claude, 2006

With Stan Getz Dynasty (Verve, 1971) Communications '72 (Verve, 1972)