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

Apr 29, 1899

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Biography

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

Duke Ellington born at

Washington, D.C.

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Birth Place

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

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Personal Life

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Childhood & Early Life

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Career

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

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Career