The Cotton Club In The 1920's

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In the late 1920’s, Duke Ellington became the leader of the house band for the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City. The Cotton Club epitomized racial segregation in the 1920’s. It was a club run by gangsters in which only white patrons were allowed to enter to watch only African American performers. They had Duke Ellington and his band perform music known at the time as “jungle music” for the club guests while African American dancers danced to the music. This time at the Cotton Club allowed the previously unknown Ellington to gain popularity as well as allowed his creativity as a songwriter to flourish. After performing at the Cotton Club for five years, Duke Ellington recorded his first song and began to tour internationally.

James P.

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