FREE ESSAY ON DUKE ELLINGTON

DUKE ELLINGTON

Duke Ellington
By the time of his passing, he was considered amongst the world's greatest composers and
musicians. The French government honored him with their highest award, the Legion of
Honor, while the government of the United States bestowed upon him the highest civil
honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He played for the royalty and for the common
people and by the end of his fifty-year career, he had played over 20,000 performances
worldwide. He was the Duke, Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born into the world on April 28, 1899 in Washington, D.C.
Duke's parents Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington served as ideal role
models for young Duke and taught him everything from proper table manners to an
understanding of the emotional power of music. Duke's first piano lessons came around the
age of seven or eight and appeared to not have that much lasting effect upon him. It
seemed as if young Duke was more inclined to baseball at a young age. Duke got his first
job selling peanuts at Washington Senator's baseball games. This was the first time Duke
was placed as a performer for a crowd and had to first get over his stage fright. At the
age of fourteen, Duke began sneaking into Frank Holliday's poolroom. His experiences from
the poolroom taught him to appreciate the value in mixing with a wide range of people. As
Duke's piano lessons faded into the past, Duke began to show a flare for the artistic.
Duke attended Armstrong Manual Training School to study commercial art instead of an
academically-oriented school. Duke began to seek out and listen to ragtime pianists in
Washington and during the summers, where he and his mother vacationed in Philadelphia or
Atlantic City. While vacationing in Asbury Park, Duke heard of a hot pianist named Harvey
Brooks. At the end of his vacation Duke sought Harvey out in Philadelphia where Harvey
showed Duke some pianistic tricks and shortcuts. Duke later recounted that, When I got
home I had a real yearning to play. I hadn't been able to get off the ground before, but
after hearing him I said to myself, 'Man you're going to have to do it.' Thus the music
career of Duke Ellington was born. 
Duke was taken under the wings of Oliver Doc Perry and Louis Brown who taught Duke how to
read music and helped improve his overall piano playing skills. Duke found piano playing
jobs at clubs and cafes throughout the Washington area. Three months shy of graduation,
Duke dropped out of school and began his professional music career.
In late 1917, Duke formed his first group: The Duke's Serenaders. Between 1918 and 1919,
Duke made three significant steps towards independence. First, he moved out of his
parents' home and into a home he bought for himself. Second, Duke became his own booking
agent for his band. By doing so, Ellington's band was able to play throughout the
Washington area and into Virginia for private society balls and embassy parties. Finally,
Duke married Edna Thompson and on March 11, 1919, Mercer Kennedy Ellington was born.
In 1923, Duke left the security that Washington offered him and moved to New York.
Through the power of radio, listeners throughout New York had heard of Duke Ellington,
making him quite a popular musician. It is also in that year that Duke made his first
recording. Ellington and his renamed band, The Washingtonians, established themselves
during the prohibition era by playing at places like the Exclusive Club, Connie's Inn,
the Hollywood Club (Club Kentucky), Ciro's, the Plantation Club, and most importantly the
Cotton Club. Thanks to the rise in radio receivers and the industry itself, Duke's band
was broadcast across the nation live on From the Cotton Club. The band's music along with
their popularity spread rapidly. 
In 1928, Ellington and Irving Mills signed an agreement in which Mills produced and
published Ellington's music. Recording companies like Brunswick, Columbia, and Victor
came calling. Duke's band became the most sought after band in the United States and even
throughout the world. 
Some of Ellington's greatest works include, Rockin' in Rhythm, Satin Doll, New Orleans, A
Drum is a Women, Take the A Train, Happy-Go-Lucky Local, The Mooche, and Crescendo in
Blue.
Duke Ellington and his band went on to play everywhere from New York to New Deli, Chicago
to Cairo, and Los Angeles to London. Ellington and his band played with such greats as
Miles Davis, Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Louis
Armstrong. They entertained everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to President Nixon. Before
passing away in 1974, Duke Ellington wrote and recorded hundreds of musical compositions,
all of which continue to have a lasting effect upon people worldwide for a long time to
come.