Harlem Renaissance Edward Kennedy Ellington

Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington was born on April 29,1899 in Washington D.C., his parents James Ellington and Daisy Kennedy were great role models for the young Duke, teaching him table manners all the way to understanding the emotional value of music. Duke is now considered the century's preeminent jazz bandleaders and composer. It is estimated that his orchestra recorded around two thousand compositions. Young Duke started at the age of seven with piano lessons, but these faded quickly because of his love of baseball. Ellington got his nickname of "Duke" from a friend who was commenting on his elegant manners, and dress. Duke atteneded Armstrong Manual Training School to study commercial art, at this time he seeked out and listened to ragtime pianists during the summers were he vacationed with his parents down in Asbury Park. This is where he discovered Harvey Brooks a pianist, who inspired Duke to play and look at the piano in a whole new light. Duke was then taught how to read music by Oliver "Doc" Perry and Louis Brown. Duke started playing clubs and dropped out of school three months shy of graduation, starting his proffesional music career. In 1917 Duke formed his first group and by 1923 he left Washington and moved to New York. Through the power of radio listeners throughout New York heard Duke Ellington, spawning his first recordings. Thanks to the wide spread sales of radio recievers Duke's band was broadcasted across the nation live on "From The Cotton Club", which is a club that still exsits in Harlem. Some of Duke Ellington's greatest hits include 'Satin Doll," "Take The A Train," and "Sophisticated Lady." He also preformed a series of sacred concerts, he recieved 16 honoray doctorates from American universities, the Spingarn medal, the President's Gold Medal from Lydon B. Johnson and the French Legion of Honor. Ellington has great influence on people even today, people such as South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, jazz singer/composer Sathima Bea Benjamin and his son Mercer Ellington who was also a bandleader after his father's death on May 24, 1974. Also Stevie Wonder's hit "Sir Duke" is in honor of Duke Ellington. I think Duke Ellington Played a big part in the Harlem Renaissance, because it was bands like his that brought the nation into Harlem with shows like live from the Cotton Club, these are the things that put Harlem on the map.

Bibliography:

The Century, by Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster
Doubleday , copyright 1998 by ABC Television Network

www.dukeellington.com

Our Century In Pictures, by Richard B Stolley
A Bulfinch Press Book copyriight 1999 by Time Inc.