History of the US Since 1865

History of the US Since 1865

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (Rough Draft)

Jazz music’s roots go deeper than most people could ever begin to imagine. Whether it is the influencing of other styles of music, the broadening of other media forms, or even the molding and shaping of the atmosphere of entire cities, jazz usually has a part in it. And with an impressive career spanning over 50 years, countless hits that are being replicated in numerous forms even today, and the pivotal part that he played in the Harlem Renaissance , it is almost impossible to talk about anything jazz related without mentioning Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington.

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 to his middle-class parents James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington, who were both pianist. At the age of 7 his parents put him in piano lessons and enforced the necessity for sophistication and etiquette, which is actually where his nickname Duke came from because his style of dress and his mannerisms reminded his friends of that of a nobleman. He attended At age 15 although he was a talented pianist, he was rough around the edges and could not read or write music, but that did not stop him from composing his first piece “Soda Fountain Rag”, which he created by ear while working as a soda jerk. Upon viewing various ragtime artists while vacationing with his mother Duke felt encouraged to better his piano skills and through the help of Dunbar High School’s Henry Lee Grant and local big band leader Oliver “Doc” Perry, Duke learned to read and write music, become far more polished in his playing techniques, and overall raise his playing ability. While by professional at this point he was a sign painter, he played party gigs and dances ...

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...e Europe was right on the brink of World War II. It was through his orchestra touring that he got one of the grandest honors a musician can receive, an invitation to play at Carnegie Hall, something that only a select few jazz musicians have ever done. Ellington was a world-wide success, and at this point in his career was recording with people of every walk of life. By the 1950’s Ellington began scoring music for many TV shows and movies, such as Anatomy of a Murder.

In his later years, Duke was still busy composing. He had created a something called the Sacred Concerts, a fusion of jazz and gospel, which received mixed reviews due to the USA’s turmoil over organized religion at the time. But regardless of that Duke Ellington claims it to be “the most important thing I’ve done” (wiki) and the Steinway piano is currently on display in the Smithsonian.