Background

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Background

• Born Edward Ellington on April 29, 1899 in
  Washington DC
  
• Daisy Kennedy Ellington (mother)
• James Edward Ellington (father)

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Who is he?

• Famous jazz composer, bandleader, and pianist.
• Known for his songs Mood Indigo, Sophisticated
  Lady, and Harlem.
  
• Made Movies and performed at such places as the
  White House and Carnegie Hall.
  

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Impact on History

• Among the first Famous Black Jazz musicians.
  Called the greatest single talent in the history
  of Jazz.
  
• Played in the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York.
• Won the New York School of Music Award in 1933
  for Creole Rhapsody.

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Interesting Facts

• Named Duke by a childhood friend.
• Holds honorary doctorates from Howard and Yale
  Universities.
  
• First ever jazz musician member of the Royal
  Music Academy in Stockholm.
  
• He was recommended for a Pulitzer Prize in 1965
  but the nomination was denied.
  
• Wrote his song Mood Indigo in 15 minutes.

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Time Line

• Born 1899
• Began playing piano at the age of 7
• Composed his first song Soda Fountain Rag, in
  high school.
  
• Began Playing music professionally in 1917.
• First visited New York in 1922
• Recorded first record called Choo Choo (gotta
  hurry home) in 1924
  
• Didnt become famous until 1926 when he debuted
  Black and Tan Fantasy
  
• Started playing at the cotton club in 1927
• Left the cotton club in 1931
• Died from Cancer in 1974

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Sources

• A Salute to Historic Blacks in the Arts an
  Empak Black History Publication series
  
• http//museum.media.org/duke/misc/family.html
  The Ellington Family remembers.
  
• http//www.redhotjazz.com/duke.html Edward
  Duke Ellington