Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington, nickname of Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899-1974). US jazz pianist, bandleader, and corn-poser. A Black, he started to work as a nightclub pianist while still in his teens. By the late 1920’s he had moved from Washington, DC, to New York, where he’ began to assemble his own orchestra. Some of these musicians remained with him for over .30 years. Ellington’s compositions range from the popular ‘Mood: Indigo’ and ‘Sophisticated Lady’ to extended suites and tone-poems. He owed his nickname to his urbane: manners and elegant dress.
