Big Name in Jazz Age Music: Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington was a big name in jazz age music. He was known for his unique and innovative style of composition and performance.

Introduction

Duke Ellington was one of the most popular and influential bandleaders of the Jazz Age. Born Edward Kennedy Ellington in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 1899, he was exposed to music from an early age; his father, James Edward Ellington, was a Slave who worked as a butler and occasionally played the piano, while his mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington, sang in the church choir. Duke began playing piano when he was seven years old and soon developed a love for ragtime and blues. He studied music at the Southeast Washington Colored High School before droping out to pursue a career in music.

In 1923, Ellington moved to New York City, where he quickly became a fixture on the city’s vibrant jazz scene. He began leading his own band, The Duke’s Men, in 1926; two years later, they renamed themselves The Cotton Club Orchestra after their regular gig at Harlem’s Cotton Club nightclub. It was during this period that Ellington wrote some of his most famous compositions, including “Mood Indigo” (1930), “Sophisticated Lady” (1933), and “Solitude” (1934). The Duke Ellington Orchestra continued to perform and record throughout the 1930s and 1940s; in 1943, they toured Europe with singer Lena Horne.

The 1950s were a tough decade for big-band jazz; as rock ‘n’ roll became more popular with young people, audiences for swing music dwindled. Nevertheless, Ellington remained active as a composer and performer; he also wrote film scores and commissioned works from other composers. In 1956, he collaborated with leading contemporary composer Aaron Copland on the ballet Octet forEight TrumpetsandStrings. In 1966 he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show—one of television’s most popular programs at the time—and in 1969 he performed at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.

Ellington continued to be prolific into his 70s; in 1970 he released his first album on his own record label, Fantasia Records. He also gave series of sold-out concerts at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House that were later released as an album entitled The Duke Meets the Count(1972). His last major work was the three-hour concert piece calledThe Blue Planet(1973), which featured Orchestra members soloing over pre-recorded tracks of environmental sounds. On May 24 1974—two months shy of his 75th birthday—Duke Ellington died of lung cancer at New York’s Greenwich Village Hospital. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom— America’s highest civilian honor—in 1977.

Early Life and Career

Duke Ellington was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. His parents were James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. Duke’s father was a butler at the home of a Washington D.C. socialite and instilled in his son an appreciation for good manners and proper etiquette. Duke’s mom was a piano teacher and exposed her son to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Antonín Dvořák, as well as ragtime artists Scott Joplin and James Reese Europe.

In his autobiography Music Is My Mistress, Duke stated that his first conscious awareness of music came when he was nine years old when he heard Joe Green’s Military Band passing by his home marching to the tune “Sweet Rosie O’Grady.” Also around this time, Duke began to take an interest in the piano after hearing Louis Armstrong play “Dippermouth Blues.” When he was twelve years old, Duke’s parents gave him piano lessons but he quit after only a few months because he felt that the lessons were interfering with his playing by ear.

In 1914, at the age of fifteen, Duke Ellington left school to pursue a career in music full time. He began by playing piano in various local clubs and venues in Washington D.C.. In 1918, he joined a military band called The Buddy Bolden Band which played at the Navy Yard every Monday night. It was during this time that Duke began to experiment with different styles of music and to develop his own unique sound.

In 1919, after The Buddy Bolden Band disbanded, Duke formed his own band called The Washingtonians. The band consisted of seven members: Duke on piano, Otto Hardwick on alto saxophone and clarinet, Elmer Snowden on banjo, Wilbur Sweatman on trombone, Bubber Miley on cornet and trumpet, Sonny Greer on drums, and Harry Carney on baritone saxophone and clarinet. The Washingtonians became quite popular in Washington D.C., playing at various local clubs and venues including The Howard Theater

The Cotton Club

The Cotton Club was a world-famous night club in Harlem, New York City, which operated between the years 1923 and 1940. The club was at its heyday during the “Jazz Age” of the 1920s, when it featured many of the biggest names in jazz music, including Duke Ellington and his orchestra. The club was also famous for its racially segregated clientele; it was one of the few places where white and black people could socialize together in those days.

Collaborations

Duke Ellington’s collaborations transcended musical boundaries and Ellington is recognized as jazz’s greatest composer. He wrote for, and collaborated with, some of the most influential performers of his time including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, and John Coltrane. Ellington also worked with classical composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. His style was unique and cannot be classified into one specific genre of music. Rather, it drew from a variety of musical traditions including blues, gospel, ragtime, and European classical music.

Later Years

Few musicians have left as lasting an imprint on American music as Duke Ellington. A highly prolific composer and bandleader, Ellington’s career spanned five decades, during which he wrote over 1,000 songs and led one of the most influential jazz bands of the era. Though he is best remembered for his work in the 1920s and ‘30s – often referred to as the Jazz Age – Ellington continued to compose and perform well into his later years.

Ellington’s later years were marked by a series of Collaborations with other artists, including bandleader Count Basie, saxophonist Johnny Hodges, and singer Ella Fitzgerald. He also began experimenting with longer compositions, such as his “suite” Black, Brown, and Beige (1943), which told the story of African-American history through music. In 1959, Ellington made his first European tour with his orchestra, which was widely hailed as a success.

In the 1960s and ‘70s, Ellington continued to tour extensively and composed several more extended works, including a second religious suite called The Gospel Train (1965). He also wrote his autobiography in 1973 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – America’s highest civilian honor – in 1969. Duke Ellington died in 1974 at the age of 75, but his legacy continues to live on through his music.

Musical Style

Duke Ellington’s musical style was unique in that he incorporated different instruments and voices to create a sound that was all his own. He often used instruments that were not typically associated with jazz, such as the piano and the trumpet, to create a sound that was both familiar and new. His use of different timbres and textures helped to define the sound of the Jazz Age.

Legacy

As one of the most influential figures in jazz history, Duke Ellington’s legacy continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the world. A prolific composer and bandleader, Ellington’s music cross genres and generations. His work with his longtime collaborator and friend, Billy Strayhorn, is considered some of the finest in 20th century music. From his early years playing in Washington D.C.’s famous U Street district to his later years touring the world with his big band, Ellington left an indelible mark on American culture.

Discography

Duke Ellington was an American composer, pianist and bandleader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death in 1974. This is a list of Ellington’s compositions as recorded by his orchestra. Titles linked to RealAudio or Windows Media recordings are indicated by (r) or (w).

1.”East St. Louis Toodle-Oo” (r)
2.”Black and Tan Fantasy” (r)
3.”Mood Indigo” (r)
4.”Creole Love Call” (w)
5.”The Mooche” (r)
6.”Rockin’ in Rhythm” (w)
7.”It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (r)
8.”Sophisticated Lady” (w)
9.”Caravan” (r)
10.”Solitude” (w)

Awards and Honors

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra were one of the most popular and revered jazz bands of the 20th century. They toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, playing at some of the most prestigious venues in the world. Duke Ellington and his Orchestra won many awards and honors during their career, including Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and numerous Pulitzer Prize nominations.

Further Reading

Ellington’s music influenced many other jazz musicians and helped to shape the genre. If you’re interested in learning more about Ellington and his impact on music, check out some of these resources:

-The New York Times: Duke Ellington’s America
– Smithsonian Institution: Duke Ellington
– NPR Music: Duke Ellington: A Life In Sound
– The Guardian: 20 essential Duke Ellington tracks