Duke Ellington Research Papers

Duke Ellington had a successful career and musicians and jazz fans all around the world. Whenever musicians young or old bring up jazz music in a discussion, jazz fan or classicist in any part of the world the name Duke Ellington is mentioned. Starting young after maturing he had a lot of memorable events throughout his life. Duke Ellington had a big impact on music during his time. He is considered by many to be the most brilliant Jazz composers in American history. Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in Washington, D.C, April 29, 1899. When Ellington was a child his family showed support and were proud blacks in there house hold. During that time period his family worked to protect him from the Era of the Jim Crow law.

He was a music writer for his band, musicals, films, Broadway performances, ballets, comic opera and movies. His work can be recognized in American Ballet The River. The dancing in the ballet was choreographed to his music by Alan Ailey June 25, 1970 in New York at the New York State Theater. Some of his films you will recognize his work in are, just to name a few Cabin in the Sky, Black, and Tan Fantasy. Mr. Ellington wrote the music all the music in the film Anatomy of Murder with his co writer Billy Strayhorn. Duke Ellington was also a band leader, played the piano and was a

From 1976 to 1996 his son did a great job keeping the band even though some were getting old to and some pasted and Ellington. His son and his group continued to release albums long after Duke Ellington's death . Digital Duke, credited to The Duke Ellington Orchestra, had won the 1988 Grammy Award for the Biggest Jazz Group and Album. Mercer Ellington had been handling all administrative aspects of his father's business for several decades. Mercer's children continue a connection with their grandfather's