Duke Ellington was a well-known pianist,
songwriter and conductor from 1916 until the 1960s. He was born in 1899 in
Washington, DC from two musical parents. At the age of 7, he started piano
lessons and by the age of 15, Duke wrote the “Soda Fountain Rag”, his first
composition. It was by age 17 that his professional career began. In the 1920s,
Duke moved to New York City and became an influential figure during the Harlem
Renaissance and beyond. He had a passion for the genre of ragtime. As a bandleader,
he started the big band era of jazz, and played in Broadway nightclubs,
especially The Cotton Club. He
introduced the white clientele to jazz and other unique styles of music. One of his well known hits include "The Flamingo".
Monday, October 28, 2013
Music History-Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington was a well-known pianist,
songwriter and conductor from 1916 until the 1960s. He was born in 1899 in
Washington, DC from two musical parents. At the age of 7, he started piano
lessons and by the age of 15, Duke wrote the “Soda Fountain Rag”, his first
composition. It was by age 17 that his professional career began. In the 1920s,
Duke moved to New York City and became an influential figure during the Harlem
Renaissance and beyond. He had a passion for the genre of ragtime. As a bandleader,
he started the big band era of jazz, and played in Broadway nightclubs,
especially The Cotton Club. He
introduced the white clientele to jazz and other unique styles of music. One of his well known hits include "The Flamingo".
