Duke Ellington
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Duke Ellington (1899 – 1974)
Born in the nation’s capital in 1899, Edward Kennedy Ellington forever changed music with his brilliance as a performer, composer, and ambassador to the world. Nicknamed “Duke” by a childhood friend, Ellington’s charm and sophistication earned him admirers even at a young age. A middle-class upbringing in Washington’s LeDroit Park gave Duke an opportunity to take up classical piano, although his true passion was for the free flowing sound of ragtime.
His band, “Duke’s Serenaders”, performed their first show at the True Reformers Hall and became a fixture of the U street music scene. In 1923, Duke moved to Harlem and earned a regular gig at the Kentucky Club with his band, The Washingtonians. Duke’s dedication and persistence paid off, as the band landed a regular spot at The Cotton Club and gained surging notoriety through its national broadcasts. The band’s evolution took on a New Orleans sound with the addition of brass horns. The Duke Ellington Orchestra, as they became known, broke new ground and blazed historical trails by performing at venues that had previously been forbidden to Black entertainers.
A few popular Ellington compositions include "Mood Indigo", "Creole Rhapsody", "Daybreak Express", and “I Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good)". In 1938, Ellington joined forces with composer/arranger Billy Strayhorn, resulting in popular tunes "Take the A Train", "Chelsea Bridge", “The Far East Suite”, and the sweet sorrowful tune "Lotus Blossom."
Duke Ellington and his Orchestra continued to awe audiences across the world, often serving as a Jazz Ambassador to heads of state through his extensive travels on behalf of the U.S. State Department. Memorable Ellington highlights include the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival performance and a subsequent Time magazine cover, the first of three Sacred Concerts debuted at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral in 1965, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. In his lifetime, Ellington earned 13 Grammy Awards and was bestowed with numerous honorary degrees and civilian awards throughout the world. In 1974, Duke Ellington's passing at the age of 75 left a legacy of innovative and masterful compositions. His music still continues to be recognized and loved worldwide.
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