Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington
Background information
Birth name	Edward Kennedy Ellington
Born	(1899-04-29)April 29, 1899 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	May 24, 1974(1974-05-24) (aged 75) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, Swing, Big band
Occupation(s)	Bandleader, pianist, composer
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1914–1974

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and Big band leader. He was one of the most important musicians in the history of recorded music, and is called one of the greatest figures in jazz music. He also played blues, gospel, pop, and classical music. He worked for 60 years. He became even more popular after he died. He was given a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board in 1999.^[1]

Ellington called his music "American Music", not "jazz".^[2] Some of the people who played in Ellington's band were also famous or important jazz musicians.

Ellington led his band from 1923 until he died of lung cancer in 1974. His son Mercer Ellington took over the band until he died of cancer in 1996. Then Paul Ellington, Mercer's youngest son, took over the band.

1. ↑ 1999 Pulitzer Prize Winners Special Awards and Citations
2. ↑ Tucker 1995, p. 6 writes "He tried to avoid the word 'jazz' preferring 'Negro' or 'American' music. He claimed there was only two types of music, 'good' and 'bad' ... And he embraced a phrase coined by his colleague Billy Strayhorn – 'beyond category' – as a liberating principle."