7.1.1+James+G.

Duke Ellington
By. James R. George

Duke Ellington was the father of Jazz music! He was born, April 29, 1899, He died, May 24, 1974. There are over 1,000 song by Duke Ellington, two examples will be noted at the bottom of this page when completed.

"In the century since his birth, there has been no greater composer, American or otherwise, than Edward Kennedy Ellington." - Bob Blumenthal. His music eventually turned into all different genres, Jazz, Gospel, Classical, Popular, Blues, and Movie Score. His carear spanned over 50 years. Ellington called his music "American Music" rather than Jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as "beyond category". These included many of the musicians who were members of his orchestra, some of whom are considered among the best in jazz in their own right, but it was Ellington who melded them into one of the most well-known Jazz orchestra units in the history of jazz. Ellington led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974. His son Mercer Ellington, who had already been handling all administrative aspects of his father's business for several decades, led the band until his own death in 1996. At that point, the original band dissolved. Paul Ellington, Mercer's youngest son and executor of the Duke Ellington estate, kept the Duke Ellington Orchestra going from Mercer's death onwards. Duke Ellington ~ It Don't Mean A Thing media type="file" key="10 It Don't Mean A Thing.mp3" width="240" height="20" Duke Ellington ~ Take The A Train media type="file" key="06 Take the A train.mp3" width="240" height="20"