Duke Ellington

@Pianists, Timeline and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Duke Ellington was an American jazz composer and performer who is among one of the greatest names in the history of jazz Cancer Celebrities African American Singers Black Musicians Black Singers American Musicians Pianists Conductors Composers Taurus Celebrities Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader. He is regarded as one of the greatest jazz composers and a prolific performer of his time. Most of his musical works on instruments set standards for others, which were later adapted into songs. This renowned jazz musician exhibited his excellence in film scores and classical compositions too. Considered a very important personality in the history of jazz music, he liked to call his music ‘American Music’ instead of jazz. A bandleader, pianist and a composer, Ellington was nicknamed ‘Duke’ by his childhood friends for his gracious and well-mannered behavior. He was truly a genius in the sense of instrument combinations, arranging jazz and improvising music that made Ellington stand unique among other composers of his time. His reputation as a composer and bandleader is intact even after his death.He collaborated with many others and wrote more than one thousand compositions and many of his extant works became a standard in jazz music. Ellington and his orchestra saw a major career revival after an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival, Rhode Island, in July 1956. He recorded for most American record companies of his time and performed in several films and composed several stage musicals. With his creative genius, Ellington elevated the perception of jazz to an art form on a par with other traditional musical genres.

Personal Details

Birthday: April 29, 1899 Died on: May 24, 1974 Nationality: American Famous: Bandleader, Pianists, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Musicians, Pianists, Conductors, Composers Spouses: Edna Thompson, Mildred Dixon Siblings: Ruth Ellington Boatwright Childrens: Beatrice Ellis, Mercer Kennedy Ellington Information Detail Birthday April 29, 1899 Died on May 24, 1974 Nationality American Famous Bandleader, Pianists, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Musicians, Pianists, Conductors, Composers Spouses Edna Thompson, Mildred Dixon Siblings Ruth Ellington Boatwright Childrens Beatrice Ellis, Mercer Kennedy Ellington Universities Armstrong High School (1917) Cause of death Cancer Birth Place Washington, D.C. Gender Male Father James Edward Ellington Mother Daisy Kennedy Sun Sign Taurus Born in Washington, D.C. Famous as Composer, Pianist and Bandleader Died at Age 75

Washington, D.C.

Duke Ellington born at Unsplash Birth Place

Ellington married his high school sweetheart Edna Thompson on July 2, 1918 at the age of 19. Unsplash Personal Life

On March 11, 1919 they were blessed with a baby boy, their first and only child. They named him Mercer Kennedy Ellington. Unsplash Personal Life

They parted ways in late twenties and in the year 1928 Mildred Dixon became Ellington’s companion and managed his company and travelled with him on his tours. Unsplash Personal Life

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington D.C. His father James Edward Ellington and mother Daisy Kennedy Ellington were pianists. His father played operatic arias while parlor songs were his mother’s first choice. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

They stayed with his maternal grandparents at 2129 Ida Place which is now called Ward Place, NW in the West End neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

When Ellington was 7 years old, he began his piano training. He took lessons for the same from Marietta Clinkscales. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

His friend Edgar McEntree gave him the nickname of “Duke” because of his casual and graceful manner and the dapper dress that he wore. He pursued his education from Armstrong Technical High School in Washington, D.C. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He was very fond of playing baseball. The first job that he did was of selling peanuts at Washington Senators baseball games. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

When Ellington’s drummer Sonny Greer joined the Wilber Sweatman Orchestra in New York City, he decided to leave behind his successful career in Washington, D.C., and moved to Harlem. Unsplash Career

After some time the young musicians left the Sweatman Orchestra to form their own, they faced a highly competitive emerging jazz scene that was hard to crack. After some time, the young musicians felt discouraged and returned to Washington, D.C. Unsplash Career

In June 1923, a gig in Atlantic City, New Jersey, proved lucky for the group and got them a chance to play at the prestigious Exclusive Club in Harlem. Unsplash Career

Initially, the group was known as ‘Elmer Snowden and his Black Sox Orchestra’ but after some time they renamed themselves ‘The Washingtonians’. In 1924, Snowden left the group and Ellington became the bandleader. After a fire incident, the club re-opened as the Club Kentucky. Unsplash Career

By the end of 1924 Ellington made eight records among three of which received composing credit, which included, ‘ChooChoo’. Unsplash Career

Information	Detail
Birthday	April 29, 1899
Died on	May 24, 1974
Nationality	American
Famous	Bandleader, Pianists, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Musicians, Pianists, Conductors, Composers
Spouses	Edna Thompson, Mildred Dixon
Siblings	Ruth Ellington Boatwright
Childrens	Beatrice Ellis, Mercer Kennedy Ellington
Universities	Armstrong High School (1917)
Cause of death	Cancer
Birth Place	Washington, D.C.
Gender	Male
Father	James Edward Ellington
Mother	Daisy Kennedy
Sun Sign	Taurus
Born in	Washington, D.C.
Famous as	Composer, Pianist and Bandleader
Died at Age	75

Duke Ellington

American

Apr 29, 1899

Biography

Personal Details

Washington, D.C.