Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington
April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974
Composer, pianist, and bandleader - led from 1923 until death
Piano lessons by age seven..."missed more lessons than he attended"...felt that the piano was not his talent
Full history - Wikipedia
Honors -
1969 - Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Nixon
1999 - posthumously awarded a special Pulitzer Prize..."commemorating the centennial year of his birth, in recognition of his musical genius..." (Wikipedia source)
Duke Ellington's Steinway piano is displayed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History collection.
My take -
Duke Ellington defined big band music. The 21st Century would be remiss if not to acknowledge his prof0und impact on the musical arts in the 20th Century and beyond. Jazz gave a beat to the music we know now. Duke Ellington was very much a part of that cause.
In this birthday season, an early Happy Birthday to Duke Ellington.
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