Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington
Born April 29, 1899
Washington, D.C.
Died May 24, 1974
New York, New York
American bandleader, composer, and pianist
"After hearing [piano player Harvey Brooks] I said to myself, 'Man, you're just going to have to do it.'"
Celebrated as one of the most important musicians and composers in the United States, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an innovator in the field of jazz, a musical form that emerged during the first two decades of the twentieth century. His popularity spanned from the 1920s to the middle of the 1970s, and many of his most famous compositions were written after the Harlem Renaissance had ended. Nevertheless, it was during this exciting period in African American cultural history that Ellington's career had its roots. In his dignified and polished manners, his high standards, and his pride in black history and accomplishments, he seemed to embody the ideals of the New Negro Movement.
A Secure and Nurturing Upbringing
It is often noted that the success Ellington achieved during his lifetime had much to do with the security and positive values provided by his parents. He was born in Washington, D.C., to James Edward Ellington, a butler with a part-time catering business who was able to purchase his own home, and Daisy Kennedy Ellington.
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