Duke ellington
by jeffrey Chen
Duke Ellington was a prolific jazz composer of the 20th century. He was born on April 29, 1899 at
Washington D.C. Ellington got this name from his friend Edgar McEntree who had joked that Ellington
needed a name that was worthy of his company. Rather than referring his music to the jazz genre, he
preferred something such as “beyond category” and “liberating principle.”
Ellington’s parents James and Daisy Ellington were both pianists. Daisy usually played songs in parlors
and James preferred operatic arias. When Ellington was 7, he started taking piano lessons from Marietta
Clinkscales. Daisy taught his son how to live elegantly by surrounding her son with distinguished women.
When Ellington’s friends noticed “his casual, offhand manner, his easy grace and his dapper dress…,”
they started to call him Duke. Even though Ellington was an amazing pianist, he was more interested in
baseball. On some days, President Roosevelt would come by on his horse and watch him play. His first
job was selling peanuts at baseball games. In 1914, Ellington wrote his first composition while working
as a soda jerk. Soon Ellington started to become more like other ragtime pianists.
In his early career, Ellington became part of the Harlem Renaissance when he left his career playing in a
band and moved to Harlem. Ellington and his band played wherever they could for income. Most of the
time, they played at rent-house parties. However after a few months, he returned to Washington D.C.
Even though he failed in Harlem, Ellington started to become known when he played in the Exclusive
Club in Harlem. In 1924, Ellington made eight records. In the early 1930s, Ellington started to conduct
orchestras using piano cues instead of the traditional baton. Ellington was not strict to his orchestra; he
was often humorous and charming. During the depression, the recording industry dropped most of its
artists. However, Ellington was able to stay in a band. While the audience of his band was mostly
African-American during this period, Ellington’s orchestra traveled overseas to perform in England.
Ellington was able to get a lot of praise from the music community which helped Ellington produce
longer pieces. In the later 1930s, Ellington started to make recordings for smaller groups, but in 1937
he returned to the Cotton Club. During the rest of his career, he switched around from band to band, but
he always focused on music. In 1956, his performance at Newport Jazz Festival helped to expose him to
newer audience. Ellington’s performance made international headlines and was also the cover of the
Time magazine. Ellington continued to perform at concerts and orchestras up to his death. Ellington
died on May 24, 1974 of lung cancer and pneumonia. His funeral was attended by over 12,000 people.
Ellington is remembered for the over 3000 songs that he composed. Some of his best known songs are
“It Don’t Mean a thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing”, “Sophisticated Lady”, and “Mood Indigo.” He was
awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966. He was also awarded many other awards in
the late career. Some of the major awards include the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and the
Legion of Honor by France in 1973. Both the highest civilian honors that could be received in each
country
Washington D.C. Ellington got this name from his friend Edgar McEntree who had joked that Ellington
needed a name that was worthy of his company. Rather than referring his music to the jazz genre, he
preferred something such as “beyond category” and “liberating principle.”
Ellington’s parents James and Daisy Ellington were both pianists. Daisy usually played songs in parlors
and James preferred operatic arias. When Ellington was 7, he started taking piano lessons from Marietta
Clinkscales. Daisy taught his son how to live elegantly by surrounding her son with distinguished women.
When Ellington’s friends noticed “his casual, offhand manner, his easy grace and his dapper dress…,”
they started to call him Duke. Even though Ellington was an amazing pianist, he was more interested in
baseball. On some days, President Roosevelt would come by on his horse and watch him play. His first
job was selling peanuts at baseball games. In 1914, Ellington wrote his first composition while working
as a soda jerk. Soon Ellington started to become more like other ragtime pianists.
In his early career, Ellington became part of the Harlem Renaissance when he left his career playing in a
band and moved to Harlem. Ellington and his band played wherever they could for income. Most of the
time, they played at rent-house parties. However after a few months, he returned to Washington D.C.
Even though he failed in Harlem, Ellington started to become known when he played in the Exclusive
Club in Harlem. In 1924, Ellington made eight records. In the early 1930s, Ellington started to conduct
orchestras using piano cues instead of the traditional baton. Ellington was not strict to his orchestra; he
was often humorous and charming. During the depression, the recording industry dropped most of its
artists. However, Ellington was able to stay in a band. While the audience of his band was mostly
African-American during this period, Ellington’s orchestra traveled overseas to perform in England.
Ellington was able to get a lot of praise from the music community which helped Ellington produce
longer pieces. In the later 1930s, Ellington started to make recordings for smaller groups, but in 1937
he returned to the Cotton Club. During the rest of his career, he switched around from band to band, but
he always focused on music. In 1956, his performance at Newport Jazz Festival helped to expose him to
newer audience. Ellington’s performance made international headlines and was also the cover of the
Time magazine. Ellington continued to perform at concerts and orchestras up to his death. Ellington
died on May 24, 1974 of lung cancer and pneumonia. His funeral was attended by over 12,000 people.
Ellington is remembered for the over 3000 songs that he composed. Some of his best known songs are
“It Don’t Mean a thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing”, “Sophisticated Lady”, and “Mood Indigo.” He was
awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966. He was also awarded many other awards in
the late career. Some of the major awards include the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and the
Legion of Honor by France in 1973. Both the highest civilian honors that could be received in each
country