Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington (Born: April 29, 1899 in Washington, DC - Died: May 24, 1974 in New York City) was an American jazz composer, pianist and bandleader. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and in 1973, the Legion of Honor by France. Both are the highest civilian honors of each country. He was known as 'The Duke' (see: Jazz royalty).

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington was a major force in jazz from the 1920s through the 1960s and his work continues to be influential today. He is considered by many to be the greatest American composer. He had many hits including Take the A Train (words and music by Billy Strayhorn), Satin Doll, Rockin' in Rhythm, Mood Indigo, Caravan and Sophisticated Lady. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Ellington often shared composer credit with his manager Irving Mills until they had a falling out in the late 1930s. Billy Strayhorn became Ellington's collaborator (not always credited) from 1940 until Strayhorn's death in the mid 1960s.

His works were always tailored to the talents of the musicians in his band, including Johnny Hodges, Bubber Miley, Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Sonny Greer, Otto Hardwicke, and Wellman Braud. Many musicians stayed with him for decades.

Taken by an admirer in the mid 1940's

Ellington started playing around Washington D.C. in his teens, then formed a band 'The Washingtonians', which he moved to New York City in 1923. Ellington & The Washingtonians played at various New York Clubs and toured New England as a dance band until they got their first big break in 1927. When the then much better known Joe 'King' Oliver held out for more money at the prestigious Cotton Club, the job as house band was offered to Ellington. This was the best known of the Harlem clubs, and 'Duke Ellington and his Jungle Band' became well known nationally thanks to the regular radio broadcasts from the Cotton Club.

In this setting Ellington had a chance to write music in a variety of styles for dance theater acts as well as extended specialties for the band. These appearances featured many experiments in tonality, with trumpet screams and wah-wah, and growling saxophones. When Ellington left the Cotton Club in 1931 he was one of the best known African-American celebrities, recording regularly for several record companies and featured in motion pictures. Ellington continued to tour with his band around the United States and Europe, plus a tour of much of the rest of the world in the 1960s.

He was a musical experimenter all his life, recording with John Coltrane and Charles Mingus as well as with his own highly skilled orchestra. The band reached a creative peak in the 1940s, when he wrote for an orchestra of distinctive voices and tremendous creativity. Some of these musicians, such as Jimmy Blanton, transformed jazz during the short time they played with him.

But even as players left and the popularity of swing diminished, Ellington continued to find new outlets, new forms and new sidemen. He frequently composed in longer forms modelled on classical music, such as his Black, Brown and Beige (1943), and Such Sweet Thunder (1957), based on Shakespeare. His Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue with a rocking saxophone interval by Paul Gonsalves in 1956 at the Newport Jazz Festival greatly increased his fame and drawing power.

He also wrote for films, starting with Black and Tan Fantasy in 1929, but also Anatomy of a Murder (1959) with James Stewart, in which he appeared as a bandleader, and Paris Blues (1961), which featured Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier as jazz musicians.

Ellington was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1965, but was turned down. His reaction: 'Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be famous too young.'

Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974 and was interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York. A large memorial to Duke Ellington created by sculptor Robert Graham was dedicated in 1997 in New York's Central Park near Fifth Avenue and 110th Street, an intersection named Duke Ellington Circle.

Samples

• Download sample of 'It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Aint't Got That Swing)' by Duke Ellington, an early hit from one of the giants of American popular song
• Download sample of 'Take the A-Train' composed by Billy Strayhorn