Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington

By: ZC

Duke Ellington was a composer, pianist, bandleader and Jazz musician. He was born on April 29,1899 in Washington D.C. He was the son of James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. He started piano lessons at the young age of seven. However, he was more interested in baseball. He did not get interested in music until he was around thirteen. He began playing for parties. Inspired by Harvey Brooks his love for music grew. Two of his songs were Soda Fountain Rag and What You Gonna Do When the Bed Breaks Down? He played at clubs such as The Hollywood Club and Frank Holidays poolroom. The name Duke came from his friends and family. Duke moved to New York in 1922 after being encouraged by Fats Walker. His band consisted of Sonny Greer, playing the drums, and Otto Hardwick, playing the saxophone They came to New York with him. James Miley and Joe Nanton joined the group after Duke moved to New York, forming the Duke Ellington Orchestra. In 1928, Duke and Irving Mills signed an agreement for Mills to publish Dukes music. During his lifetime, Ellington and his band played with such musicians as Miles Davis, Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gellespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, and Louis Armstrong. One of the greatest jazz musicians of all time sadly passed away in 1974. People all over the world will greatly remember Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington.