Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington

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As a pianist, composer, and bandleader, Edward Kennedy Ellington 1899-1974; is one of the most influential figures of jazz music. He was recognized as an American musician whose reputation has increased after his death as he was awarded a citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board.

“American Music” is the style of music that Ellington performed in which he refused to be categorized as a jazz musician. His attitude is being clear concerning the categories of music as he used to describe his impression of musicians as “beyond category”. His orchestra included giant musicians of jazz who served with his orchestra for decades. But it was him who introduced those musicians into the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz.

For the style and skills of special individuals, Ellington often composed pieces of music such as “Concerto for Cootie” or” Do” for Cootie Williams, “The Mooche” for Tricky Sam Nanton, and “Jeep’s Blues” for Johnny Hodges. His bandsmen contributed to writing some songs such as Caravan and Perdido by Juan Tizol; those songs that brought the” Spanish Ting” to big-band jazz. He found his alter-ego after1941 when he collaborated with the composer-arranger, Billy Strayhorn.

His reputation as a twentieth-century African-American musician is best-known for many American record companies and has appeared in several films. Before and after World War II, Ellington and his orchestra regularly toured Europe and the United States. From1923 Ellington genuinely led his band along to his death in 1974. And, like son like father, Mercer Ellington, Ellington’s son, lead the band until his death of cancer in 1996.

Even after Mercer’s death, the name of Ellington remained a major music figure as Paul Ellington, Mercer’s youngest son, took over the Orchestra and the Estate of Duke. He brought to the jazz music some sophistication and a level of style that hadn’t occurred before. In spite of his gift as a piano player, he took his orchestra as his principal instrument. However; he believed in his potential as a composer and arranger rather than a piano player.

In Washington, D.C. in 1917, the Duke began to play music professionally. Influenced by the stride piano players of James P. Johnson and Willie “The Lion” Smith, the Duke’s piano technique was distinguished. His first visit to New York in 1922 to play with Wilbur Sweatman was unsuccessful. In 1923 the Duke returned to New York with a group of Washington friends. Elmer Snowden was a banjoist that they worked with for a while until a disagreement over money appeared. After that Ellington became the leader of a group named The Washingtonians that worked in Manhattan at The Hollywood Club (the Kentucky Club).

At the time the band was honored to have Sidney Bechet playing briefly with them but unfortunately without recording. Bubber Miley, a trumpet player, more significantly brought with him a style of music that is unique and mute. Through such a style of playing Ellington’s early success was possible, and the sound was called the “Jungle Sound”. “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo” is a good song of this style of playing.

In 1924, their first record, “Choo Choo (Gotta Hurry Home)” was recorded but it wasn’t until Irving Mills became their manager that the band hit a big-time in 1926. Later in 1927, the band re-recorded songs that remained with them for the rest of their career. Ellington’s Orchestra was really put over the top when it became the house band at the Cotton Club. Ellington was made

famous across America by the radio broadcasts from the club. The club gave him the financial security to be able to assemble a band that he could dedicate his music. Harry Carney, a saxophone player, remained with Duke to his death, musicians tended to play with the band.

forever nonstop. Even King Oliver was left by the clarinetist Barney Bigard to join the band producing 1930 “Mood Indigo”, one of the orchestra’s signature pieces. In 1929 Cootie Williams was replaced with Bubber Miley because of Williams’ alcoholism. “Black and Tan” was Ellington’s first appearance in a film. Later in 1931, the Duke Ellington Orchestra could play no more for the Cotton Club devoting to a tour for Europe and the United States.

From the Hot Jazz of the 1920s to the Swing music of the 1930s, the Ellington Orchestra could achieve creative change. Such creativity of adapting and growing with the time kept the Ellington Orchestra a jazz major force up until the1970s, the Duke’s death. It was only Louis Armstrong that could manage to sustain such a career who later failed to be in the artistic vanguard of the Duke. Ellington’s fame and influence continued to grow throughout the Forties and Fifties.

The Duke composed in 1960 “The Far East Suite”, and wrote several religious pieces. Ellington was able to collaborate with very diverse music groups. He, further, had a double big-band date with Count Basie, played in a trio with Max Roach and Charles Mingus, and sat in with the John Coltrane Quartet and Louis Armstrong All-Stars. Even after Ellington’s death, the band continued to attract outstanding musicians.

His music was influenced by William “Willie the Lion” Smith. He was initiated in using the concerto form in his work as in “Concerto for Cootie”. Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, Ray Nance, and Louis Bellson are distinguished musicians who came through Ellington’s organization of music. Billy Strayhorn is a musician who collaborated with Ellington in his

composing and arranging. “Sophisticated Lady,” “Mood Indigo”, and “In a Sentimental Mood” are some of Ellington’s more famous compositions. He also performed a series of “sacred jazz concerts” in churches such as Westminster Abbey in London and St. John the Divine in New York. Ellington received honors from numerous institutions including doctorates from the Spingarn medal, the French Legion of Honor, the President’s Gold Medal from Lyndon B. Johnson, and from American universities. Ellington inspired new potentials like the South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, a jazz singer and composer, and Mercer Ellington, his son, who led the band after his death in 1974. He was greatly honored in Stevie Wonder’s song “Sir Duke “.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) awarded Ellington in 1964 the Spingarn Medal, as he was the recipient of several Grammy Awards all along with his career. In 1964 Ellington was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. In 1967 he was awarded a doctor of music degree from Yale University, and in the same year, the universities of Morgan State and Washington gave him degrees of honorary. And at a White House ceremony, President Richard Nixon (1913–1994) gave him the Medal of Freedom. The National Institute of Arts and Letters elected him in 1970.

On May 24, 1974, in New York City, Ellington ceased to live dying of lung cancer. Headed by his son Mercer, Ellington’s band survived. His music was marked with his daring innovation that he will always be remembered for.

Packed with legendary names, the history of jazz has a remarkable feat considering Ellington’s greatest talents as influencing musicians until today.

Works Citied

Collier. james Lincoln (1987), About Duke Ellington.

Dance. Stanley , (1970) Duke Ellington’s World, New York.

Mark , 1993,( The Duke Ellington Reader) New York , Oxford University.

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Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington

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