The Life of Jazz Great--Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29^th in the year of 1899, to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington in the nation's capital --Washington D.C.

During his early days of school, one of Edward's pals came up with the nickname "Duke" mainly for his elegant and proud manner, since then, the nickname stuck with him!

As a young African American man, Duke found a job while still in school selling peanuts at the Washington Senator's baseball games. During that time, he took a great interest in a pianist named, Harvey Brooks. Duke searched everywhere to find Harvey and when he eventually did, Harvey took him under his wing and showed him some tricks and moves on the piano. Since that time, Duke had a strong desire to play piano and actually taught himself how to play.

Soon after, many others seen a great talent in him. Oliver "Doc" Perry and Louis Brown helped to coach him and teach him how to read music and to improve his overall piano playing skills.

In 1917, Duke formed his first band called "The Duke's Serenader's". Duke was his own booking agent and he and the band often played locally in the Washington area for private society balls and parties.

Duke found the love of his life and ended up marrying Edna Thompson in March of 1919 -- just a short while thereafter, his only son, Mercer Kennedy Ellington was born.

Soon after being married, Duke's band became the most requested and wanted band in the U.S.and throughout the world.

As a composer, Duke was compared to George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin -- who themselves were some of the greatest composers that have ever lived. Duke wrote thousands of songs, and the exact number is not presently known. Hundreds of these songs became standards --meaning the song was very widely known.

As an arranger, Duke was very innovative -- writing for the individual players in his band. He was also known for not playing his songs the exact same way every time. Duke was constantly rearranging them. Several years into his career, the same tune of Moon Indigo for example, one of Duke's more popular songs -- sounded much different in 1932 than it did years before.

The entire band moved "uptown" to the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, New York, on December 4, 1927. This same place has been named after him. The band moving to the Cotton Club marked a popular time for Duke's career. The Cotton Club quickly became one of the hot spots of Harlem night life, but radio was still very popular and almost every home had one. Prohibition took its toll on the economy. But the radio allowed everyone a chance to hear his amazing voice -- even if they couldn't afford to go see him and the band perform in person.

Duke Ellington always considered his orchestra to be his primary instrument of choice and he loved to record with them. It was his backdrop and he enjoyed hearing the blend of himself alongside of the orchestra.

Some of his greatest hits were "Rockin' in Rhythm," "Satin Doll," "New Orleans," "A Drum is a Women," "Take the 'A' Train," "Happy-Go-Lucky Local," "The Mooche," and "Crescendo in Blue."

His most famous hit ever recorded was "It don't mean thing of you ain't got that swing". A memorable song many remember even to present day. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest musicians during the Cotton Club and "Pop" Years, which was from 1927 to 1938.

Duke passed away in 1974 but was thought to be one of the world's greatest composers and musicians. By the end of his over 50 year career, he had played and performed well over 20,000 performances worldwide. He also received the highest civil honor -- the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Duke was one of the most loved and well known jazz greats of his time and will forever leave a music legacy behind for everyone to remember him by.