Duke+Ellington

Duke Ellington was born on April 28, 1899 to Daisy and James Ellington in Washington D.C. He was born as Edward Kennedy Ellington. He was nicknamed by a classmate who admired him. From an early age, he loved music. At age four, he heard his mother playing “The Rosary,” which was a popular piano tune. He had cried saying, “So pretty, so pretty.” **
 * [[image:Duke_Ellington.jpg width="178" height="246"]]
 * At the age of seven, he had started to play piano himself. He knew he was going to go somewhere with his life, telling neighbors that he was going to be great. At 15, Duke wrote his first song, Soda Fountain Rag, while working at a soda fountain. His first gig was playing at a party. He made 75 cents and his hand bled from playing. Duke then moved to New York where there was a demand fo performers. He was leading his own band, The Washingtons at Times Square. Duke and his orchestra played at the cotton club for 11 years. Though the band took off frequently to make movies. He was a creator of swing.He composed over 2,000 songs and ballets. **
 * Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974 in New York City. He made many good albums and songs. He will be remembered forever for his great skill in the music world **
 * DUKE ELLINGTON DISCOGRAPHY **
 * Black Beauty **
 * Jig Walk **
 * Swampy River

Sources:

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/music/ellington/youth_1 http://www.redhotjazz.com/duke.html http://pbskids.org/jazz/nowthen/duke.html

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