Transcript Slide 1
Duke Ellington 1899-1974 “My biggest kick in music – playing or writing – is when I have a problem. Without a problem to solve, how much interest do you take in anything." - Duke Ellington By: Joe Hollis Heather Brown Kwan Sadler The Early Years Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington •Born April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C. •Was taught the emotional power of music by his parents •First piano lessons at age seven or eight •First job selling peanuts at Washington Senators Baseball games •Armstrong Manual Training School •Began listening to rag-time pianists •Harvey Brooks •Dropped out of school three months before graduation to pursue music career Influences and Mentors James P. Johnson Willie “The Lion” Smith Oliver “Doc” Perry Louis Brown Harvey Brooks “If Jazz means anything it is a freedom of expression” Duke Ellington The Duke Ellington Orchestra •His orchestra was the principle instrument •Considered himself a composer rather than a musician •House Band at the Cotton Club •Transitioned from “Hot Jazz” to “Swing” music in the 1930’s •Grew to 12 musicians in 1927-1932 •“You can take the man out of the Ellington band, but you couldn’t take the Ellington out of the man” • Irving Mills became manager •The band was lead by Duke Ellington until his death, then his son Mercer took over Bands •1917- Duke Serenaders •1923- Washingtonians •1925- Duke Ellington and the Kentucky Club Orchestra •1927- Duke Ellington and the Cotton Club Band •1929- Duke Ellington and his Memphis Men •1932- The Duke Ellington Orchestra Some Accomplishments •Considered “America’s greatest living composer •1963 Honorary doctorate from Harvard •1967 Yale University •Presidential Male of Honor •1970 made a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters •1971 became the first jazz member of he Royal Music Academy in Stockholm •1973 Honorary degree from Columbia University What others have said about “the Duke” •"In the royalty of American music, no man swings more or stands higher than the Duke." - President Richard Nixon •"The wit, taste, intelligence and elegance that Duke Ellington brought to his music have made him, in the eyes of millions of people both here and abroad, America’s foremost composer." - President Richard Nixon •"Duke Ellington is the quintessential American composer." - critic and novelist Albert Murray •"Duke Ellington did not want to sound like anyone else; he wanted to sound like himself." - novelist John Edward Murray •"For me, he was always in the panthon of great musicians along with Bach and Beethoven and Schoenberg." - musician Gunther Schuller •"He has nurtured the reputation he has made for always being late, because it allows him the freedom to time his entrance to suit his sense of drama… In our years of recording together, I’ve known Duke to arrive an hour early, two hours late, and at every point between these two extremes. I have never known him to arrive anywhere at the wrong moment." - artist Irving Townsend Duke Ellington with Willie “the Lion” Smith Duke Ellington and Orchestra Duke Ellington with President Richard Nixon Duke Ellington with Louis Armstrong Sources www.dukeellington.com www.redhotjazz.com www.duke-ellington.com