Duke ellingtons most popular book is music is my mistress. Duke ellington was the most famous of all of them and he played the piano. May, 2016 ellington was a family man, and he lavished his parents and sister with extravagant gifts, like this diamondencrusted swiss pocket watch he gave his father, james edward ellington, just as the. Edward kennedy duke ellington was born in washington d. In this lesson, learn about duke ellington s life and music, and find out some cool facts about the man with the big band. While working as a sign painter he began to play professionally and in 1918 started his own band in his native washington dc. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. Duke ellington studies duke ellington s america is the first biography to make extensive use of a collection of ellingtons personal and professional records housed at the smithsonian institution. List of books and articles about duke ellington online. Ellington s classics include dont get around much anymore, mood indigo, and i let a song get out of my head. Edward kennedy duke ellington was an american jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. Duke ellingtons story on record remains the most commanding legacy in the music, impossible to surpass. Duke ellington edward kennedy ellington pianist, composer, orchestra leaderborn.
His parents, james edward and daisy kennedy ellington, both played the piano. Jan 21, 2020 ellington has been profiled in many books through the years and he was a national name by the early 1930s, but there are some aspects of his life and career that are not as wellknown as his. His son mercer ellington took over the band until he died of cancer in 1996. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than six decades born in washington, d. Duke ellington s most popular book is music is my mistress. Ellington was a family man, and he lavished his parents and sister with extravagant gifts, like this diamondencrusted swiss pocket watch he gave his father, james edward ellington, just as the. Ellington found that when he went on a diet consisting of nothing but steak, hot water, grapefruit juice and coffee, he could lose weight very quickly. Duke ellington has 120 books on goodreads with 1662 ratings. The complete brunswick and vocalion recordings 19261931 duke ellington on allmusic 1994 this threecd set, which has all of duke. However, he was more than capable of sensitive examination of his own music. The piano prince and his orchestra by andrea davis pinkney and brian pinkney.
Musician, historian, lecturer 6 selected compositions 7 selected discography 8 sources 9 duke ellington 10 was a distinct. The ellington family lived in lincolnshire, at the manor of elkington, near louth. Duke ellington and his orchestra the uncollected duke. Duke ellington was elegantly dismissive of analysis. An american genius, collier tells the full story of edward kennedy ellington from his childhood as the pampered and adored only son of a middleclass washington black family to his death in 1974 when over ten thousand people mourned at his funeral and the new york times obituary proclaimed him. Duke ellington article about duke ellington by the free. Duke ellington biography childhood, life achievements. Duke ellington was an american jazz composer and performer who is among one of the greatest names in the history of jazz.
By 1918 he had formed a band, and after appearances in nightclubs in harlem he became one of the most famous figures in american jazz. Edward kennedy duke ellington was the greatest jazz composer of the twentieth century and an impenetrably enigmatic personality whom no one, not even his closest friends, claimed to understand. Ellington is a name that was brought to england by the ancestors of the ellington family when they migrated to the region after the norman conquest in 1066. Edward kennedy ellington was born on april 29, 1899. Duke ellington biography life, death, history, mother, son. Duke ellington progressed quickly from routine hotdance records to sophisticated and complex threeminute works which showed a rare grasp of the possibilities of the 78r. Before the birth of edward kennedy ellington on april 29, 1899, there was a young washington cd couple, daisy kennedy ellington and james edward ellington. Yet, aside from ellington s own rather unrevealing autobiography and a collection of reminiscences of his band members, no indepth biography of this preeminent figure of twentiethcentury music and entertainment has previously existed.
This was about 26% of all the recorded ellington s in the usa. The renaissance man of jazz ella fitzgerald called him the duke of ellington. He was raised by a middleclass africanamerican family, and his parents were both pianists. Yet, aside from ellingtons own rather unrevealing autobiography and a collection of reminiscences of his band members, no indepth biography of this preeminent figure of twentiethcentury music and entertainment has previously existed. The life and music of duke ellington lessons 023 024 th. When he was a boy, edward kennedy ellington s first love was baseball. Duke ellington edward kennedy ellington, 18991974, american jazz musician and composer, b. The teacher will play a selection of music from duke ellington it dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing or satin doll mp3 itunes. Edward kennedy duke ellington was a renowned composer, pianist, jazz enthusiast, and band leader of jazz orchestras. He was called duke by his friends growing up because his suave sophistication reminded them. The recording features ellingtons famous orchestra of wellknown players like saxophonist otto hardwicke, clarinetist barney bigard, trumpet player bubber miley, and many more. A short biography of duke ellington, the american jazz legend known for his hits like it dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing and take the a. Ellington led his band from 1923 until he died of lung cancer in 1974. In 1939, duke hired billy strayhorn to write songs for the group.
Duke ellington studies is a welcome addition to ellington scholarship, consisting of some wellresearched articles that contain a wealth of information. The secrets behind duke ellingtons prized possessions new. He married edna thompson, his high school sweetheart, on july 2, 1918, and they had one child together. In doing so, duke ellington was one of the most important musical figures in american history. He was one of the most important musicians in the history of recorded music, and is called one of the greatest figures in jazz music. Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his new compositions and shaped his writing specifically to showcase the talents of his bandmembers, many of whom remained with him. The composer and bandleader duke ellington 18991974 was a largely selftaught pianist who was influenced by jazz and ragtime performers. Duke ellington biography 2017 facts, childhood, wiki. This is a box set of four duke ellington 78s containing a total of eight songs released in march of 1943 on victor records. At his parents insistence, he took piano lessons and, by the time he was 19, music was. Duke ellington students britannica kids homework help. Then paul ellington, mercers youngest son, took over the band. A life of louis armstrong edward kennedy duke ellington was the greatest jazz composer of the twentieth centuryand an impenetrably enigmatic personality whom no one, not even his closest friends, claimed to understand.
A jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, ellington was one of the most eminent and creative u. Music lovers everywhere have hailed duke ellington as one of the greatest geniuses of jazz. Ellingtons classics include dont get around much anymore, mood indigo, and i let a song get out of my head. Duke ellington was a famous african american jazz musician. Summary duke ellington was born on april 29, 1899 in washington, d.
He was commemorated by stevie wonder with sir duke, a song wonder wrote in 1976. Ellington first demonstrated his ability to write music for the theater in 1924, when he cowrote a successful, allblack musical revue called chocolate kiddies, starring legendary actress. Duke ellington is considered by many to be one of americas most brilliant jazz composers writers of music of the twentieth century. An originator of bigband jazz, duke ellington was an american composer, pianist and bandleader who composed thousands of scores over his 50year career. The story of one of americas greatest composers, duke ellington, is lavishly told here in jazzinspired prose. Books by duke ellington author of music is my mistress. A life of duke ellington, dive into the story of how ellington engineered his own image. The range of his accomplishments was so great over a 55year career that his impact on music has yet to be assessed adequately. Now the group really started to soar on the charts and finally got to play at new yorks carnegie hall. Duke ellington is the author of music is my mistress 3. The grandson of a slave, he dropped out of high school to become one of the worlds most famous musicians, a.
Ace your next assignment with help from a professional writer. The piano prince and his orchestra by andrea davis pinkney, help the b. This was about 26% of all the recorded ellingtons in the usa. Biography for duke ellington turner classic movies. Of the haunting and plaintive mood indigo, he said. Edward kennedy ellington was born in washington, d. He also played blues, gospel, pop, and classical music. Duke ellington was the most important composer in the history of jazz as well as being a bandleader who held his large group together continuously for almost 50 years. He led his famed orchestra from 1923 until his death.
The most ellington families were found in the usa in 1880. Born edward kennedy ellington on april 29, 1899 in washington, d. Duke ellington 1 18991974 pianist, bandleader, composer at a glance 2 a late bloomer 3 formed his own band 4 blew the joint away at newport 5 the 1960s. Duke ellington family, childhood, life achievements, facts, wiki and bio of 2017. Grammy awardwinning jazz pianist, composer, and orchestra leader considered the most prolific composer and bestknown figure in jazz history. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and big band leader. Duke ellington is considered to be one of the greatest figures in the history of american music.
As a child, he actually enjoyed baseball more than piano. Nov 29, 2018 complete duke ellington 2017 biography. In 1840 there were 30 ellington families living in north carolina. Duke ellingtonedward kennedy ellingtonpianist, composer, orchestra leaderborn. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than six decades. He gained international acclaim through gigs and appearances in the cotton club of harlem. A major new biography of duke ellington from the acclaimed author of pops. Ellington has been profiled in many books through the years and he was a national name by the early 1930s, but there are some aspects of his life and career that are not as wellknown as his.
This biography profiles his childhood, life, music career, achievements and timeline. When he was a boy, edward kennedy ellingtons first love was baseball. The young duke, born edward kennedy ellington in washington d. Today, three generations of ellingtons are working passionately to carry on the ducal legacy. Ellington made his first professional appearance as a jazz pianist in 1916. The ellington family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. His parents were called james edward ellington and daisy kennedy ellington. The duke ellington reader has been added to your cart add to cart.