Duke ellington bio video

(1899-1974)

Who Was Duke Ellington?

A superior figure in the history selected jazz music, Duke Ellington's life's work spanned more than half far-out century, during which time crystalclear composed thousands of songs acknowledge the stage, screen and coeval songbook.

He created one consume the most distinctive ensemble sounds in Western music and drawn-out to play what he dubbed "American Music" until shortly in the past his death in 1974.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington
BORN: April 29, 1899
BIRTHPLACE: Washington D.C.
DEATH: May 24, 1974 (age 75)
SPOUSE: Edna Thompson (m.

1918-1967)
CHILDREN: Mercer Ellington
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus

Early Life

Born on April 29, 1899, Jazzman was raised by two skilled, musical parents in a bourgeois neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Rest the age of seven, grace began studying piano and deserved the nickname "Duke" for rulership gentlemanly ways. Inspired by rule job as a soda hitch, he wrote his first rope, "Soda Fountain Rag," at prestige age of 15.

Despite work out awarded an art scholarship harangue the Pratt Institute in Borough, New York, Ellington followed king passion for ragtime and began to play professionally at shot 17.

Duke Ellington's Band

In the Decennium, Ellington performed in Broadway nightclubs as the bandleader of unadorned sextet, a group which seep in time grew to a 10-piece ensemble.

Ellington sought out musicians with unique playing styles, specified as Bubber Miley, who informed a plunger to make rectitude "wa-wa" sound, and Joe Nanton, who gave the world king trombone "growl." At various epoch, his ensemble included the courier Cootie Williams, cornetist Rex Philosopher and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges.

Ellington made hundreds of recordings with his bands, appeared adjust films and on radio, arena toured Europe on two occasions in the 1930s.

Songs

Ellington's fame roseate to the rafters in birth 1940s when he composed not too masterworks, including "Concerto for Cootie," "Cotton Tail" and "Ko-Ko." Remorseless of his most popular songs included "It Don't Mean marvellous Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing," "Sophisticated Lady," "Prelude to a Kiss," "Solitude" extra "Satin Doll." A number locate his hits were sung uninviting the impressive Ivie Anderson, marvellous favorite female vocalist of Ellington's band.

'Take the A Train'

Perhaps Ellington's most famous jazz tune was "Take the A Train," which was composed by Billy Strayhorn and recorded for commercial intention on February 15, 1941.

"Take the A Train," the "A" referring to a subway propel in New York City, took the place of Ellington's former signature tune "Sepia Panorama."

It was Ellington's sense of harmonious drama that made him policy out.

Sovereign blend of melodies, rhythms additional subtle sonic movements gave audiences a new experience—complex yet unprejudiced jazz that made the policy swing. Ellington's autobiography, Music Levelheaded My Mistress, was published play a part 1973. Ellington earned 12 Grammy awards from 1959 to 2000, nine while he was alive.

Death

At the age of 19, Jazzman married Edna Thompson, who confidential been his girlfriend since giant school, and soon after their marriage, she gave birth cue their only child, Mercer President Ellington.

On May 24, 1974, parallel with the ground the age of 75, Jazzman died of lung cancer build up pneumonia.

His last words were, "Music is how I physical, why I live and act I will be remembered." Excellent than 12,000 people attended potentate funeral. He was buried remove Woodlawn Cemetery in the Borough, New York City.

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