Relevance of Musical Legend Duke Ellington
Remembering Jazz Orchestra Genius
April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C., Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born to Daisy Kennedy and James Edward Ellington. Duke Ellington’s father worked at a Navy yard; his mother worked as a housewife caring for Duke and his older sister, Ruth.
High Point of Duke Ellington Musical Career
At one of the high points of his career, Duke Ellington composed pieces like “Black, Brown and Beige” which he performed with his orchestra at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1943. Other songs Duke Ellington and his orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall included “Jack The Bear,” “Cotton Tail,” “Daydream” and “Mood Indigo.”
“Black, Brown and Beige” was Duke Ellington’s longest piece to date. According to Encyclopedia’s official website, the audience nor reviewers received the ambitious piece warmly. It would be the first and last time that Duke Ellington would perform the piece publicly. Mini concertos like “Concerto for Cootie” and “Echoes of Harlem” are considered to be amongst the band leader’s best works.
Duke Ellington Faces Music Industry Changes
The 1950s and 1960s brought another shift to the music industry. Modern jazz, rock and roll and bebop became fan favorites, moving traditional jazz and big band compositions into the background. The shift impacted Duke Ellington and his orchestra the same as it did other musicians who began their careers at the start of the century.
By the late 1950s, Duke Ellington was performing at jazz festivals with legendary songbirds like Ella Fitzgerald who recorded “Duke Ellington Songbook” with Ellington’s orchestra. The jazz album was released in 1957.
Continuing to record into the 1970s, Duke Ellington’s musical career spanned half a century. His autobiography, Music Is My Mistress, was published by Doubleday in 1973. In the book the musician made it clear that music was his true love. It was this passion that fueled Duke Ellington to the top in the music world, that made him one of the world’s great jazz and band leaders.
Honors For Duke Ellington, One Of The Jazz Greats
Throughout his lifetime his talent and work was honored by music lovers, fans, peers and critics. His music has won 13 Grammy Awards in jazz and pop categories. In 1969 Duke Ellington received the Presidential Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966. One of his earliest awards came from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) when he won the Spingarn Award.
Duke Ellington passed away on May 24, 1974 in New York City. He was married to Edna Thompson, a woman he met when he was nearing the end of his teenage years. Together the couple had one child, a son named Mercer Kennedy Ellington.
Carrying on Duke Ellington’s Musical Genius
Mercer would carry on his father’s work by continuing to work with the orchestra. Paul Ellington, Duke Ellington’s grandson, is the current leader of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The orchestra continues to perform live. One of their recent performances ran from July 1, 2008 through July 8, 2008 at the Blue Note in New York City.
His music and talent still doing its good work, Duke Ellington has not ceased to receive honors. New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, declared April 29, 2009 as Duke Ellington Day. The declaration was established to honor the 110th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth.
February 24, 2009, Duke Ellington became the first African American to be featured on a United States coin put in circulation when his image appeared on a District of Columbia vintage quarter. One of the legendary musician’s quotes, as noted at the official Duke Ellington website, states that, “You’ve got to find some way of saying it without saying it.”
Jazz Mart, FYE, CD Baby and Tower Records carry music created by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Retailers like Target, Walmart, the Bop Shop and London’s Rough Trade record store also carry Duke Ellington’s albums. Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Cushcity.com and Waldenbooks carry books written by or about Duke Ellington like the jazz maestro's autobiography, Music Is My Mistress.
Sources:
Duke Ellington Official Website. 13 November 2009.
Duke Ellington Orchestra
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