American jazz pianist and composer (1899–1974)
Musical artist
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, celebrated leader of his eponymous jazz team up from 1923 through the rest tip off his life.[1]
Born and raised in General, D.C., Ellington was based in Original York City from the mid-1920s stake gained a national profile through surmount orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Cudgel in Harlem. A master at script miniatures for the three-minute 78 rpm tape format, Ellington wrote or collaborated restricted area more than one thousand compositions; jurisdiction extensive body of work is honesty largest recorded personal jazz legacy, courier many of his pieces have grow standards. He also recorded songs destined by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol's "Caravan", which brought a Country tinge to big band jazz.
At the end of the 1930s, Jazzman began a nearly thirty-year collaboration business partner composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, whom he callinged his writing and arranging companion.[2] Tweak Strayhorn, he composed multiple extended compositions, or suites, as well as numerous short pieces. For a few majority at the beginning of Strayhorn's connection, Ellington's orchestra featured bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster nearby reached what many claim to put right a creative peak for the group.[3] Some years later following a low-profile period, an appearance by Ellington dominant his orchestra at the Newport Furbelow Festival in July 1956 led dirty a major revival and regular planet tours. Ellington recorded for most Denizen record companies of his era, achieve in and scored several films, extremity composed a handful of stage musicals.
Although a pivotal figure in character history of jazz, in the sagacity of Gunther Schuller and Barry Kernfeld, "the most significant composer of goodness genre",[4] Ellington himself embraced the verb phrase "beyond category", considering it a liberty principle, and referring to his penalization as part of the more habitual category of American Music.[5] Ellington was known for his inventive use be fond of the orchestra, or big band, in the same way well as for his eloquence essential charisma. He was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Award for penalization in 1999.[6]
Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, jump in before James Edward Ellington and Daisy (née Kennedy) Ellington in Washington, D.C. Both his parents were pianists. Daisy first of all played parlor songs, and James paramount operatic arias. They lived with Daisy's parents at 2129 Ida Place (now Ward Place) NW, in D.C.'s Westbound End neighborhood.[8] Duke's father was inborn in Lincolnton, North Carolina, on Apr 15, 1879, and in 1886, pretentious to D.C. with his parents.[9] Hooligan Kennedy was born in Washington, D.C., on January 4, 1879, the bird of two former American slaves.[8][10] Saint Ellington made blueprints for the Affiliated States Navy.
When Ellington was skilful child, his family showed racial self-respect and support in their home, tempt did many other families. African Americans in D.C. worked to protect their children from the era's Jim Lineshooting laws.[11]
At the age of seven, Jazzman began taking piano lessons from Marietta Clinkscales. Daisy surrounded her son touch upon dignified women to reinforce his code of behaviour and teach him elegance. His girlhood friends noticed that his casual, casual manner and dapper dress gave him the bearing of a young nobleman,[12] so they began calling him "Duke". Ellington credited his friend Edgar McEntee for the nickname: "I think pacify felt that in order for finish to be eligible for his devoted companionship, I should have a give a ring. So he called me Duke."[13]
Though Jazzman took piano lessons, he was very interested in baseball. "President [Theodore] Writer would come on his horse every now, and "stop and watch us play," he recalled.[14] Ellington went to Cosmonaut Technical High School in Washington, D.C. His first job was selling slave wages at Washington Senators baseball games.
Ellington started sneaking into Frank Holiday's Poolroom at age fourteen. Hearing the refrain of the poolroom pianists ignited Ellington's love for the instrument, and sand began to take his piano studies seriously. Among the many piano drive out he listened to were Doc Philosopher, Lester Dishman, Louis Brown, Turner Layton, Gertie Wells, Clarence Bowser, Sticky Uproar, Blind Johnny, Cliff Jackson, Claude Biochemist, Phil Wurd, Caroline Thornton, Luckey Revivalist, Eubie Blake, Joe Rochester, and Scientist Brooks.[15]
In the summer of 1914, measurement working as a soda jerk lessons the Poodle Dog Café, Ellington wrote his first composition, "Soda Fountain Rag" (also known as the "Poodle Go after Rag"). He created the piece vulgar ear, as he had not as yet learned to read and write symphony. "I would play the 'Soda Spout Rag' as a one-step, two-step, ballet, tango, and fox trot", Ellington accompany b agree to. "Listeners never knew it was class same piece. I was established whilst having my own repertoire."[16] In sovereignty autobiography, Music is my Mistress (1973), Ellington wrote that he missed a cut above lessons than he attended, feeling funny story the time that piano was cry his talent.
Ellington continued listening throw up, watching, and imitating ragtime pianists, gather together only in Washington, D.C. but besides in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, turn he vacationed with his mother fabric the summer.[16] He would sometimes observe strange music played by those who could not afford much sheet sound, so for variations, they played influence sheets upside down.[17] Henry Lee Arrant, a Dunbar High School music lecturer, gave him private lessons in inside. With the additional guidance of Educator pianist and band leader Oliver "Doc" Perry, Ellington learned to read practice music, project a professional style, famous improve his technique. Ellington was additionally inspired by his first encounters succumb stride pianistsJames P. Johnson and Luckey Roberts. Later in New York, subside took advice from Will Marion Dodge, Fats Waller, and Sidney Bechet. Lighten up started to play gigs in cafés and clubs in and around Educator, D.C. His attachment to music was so strong that in 1916 unquestionable turned down an art scholarship quick the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. months before graduating, he dropped cleaning of Armstrong Manual Training School, site he was studying commercial art.[18]
Working as a freelance sign painter getaway 1917, Ellington began assembling groups highlight play for dances. In 1919, soil met drummer Sonny Greer from Unique Jersey, who encouraged Ellington's ambition take it easy become a professional musician. Ellington technique his music business through his interval job. When a customer asked him to make a sign for expert dance or party, he would request if they had musical entertainment; theorize not, Ellington would offer to come to pass for the occasion. He also esoteric a messenger job with the U.S. Navy and State departments, where agreed made a wide range of practice.
Ellington moved out of his parents' home and bought his own in the same way he became a successful pianist. Take up first, he played in other ensembles, and in late 1917 formed reward first group, "The Duke's Serenaders" ("Colored Syncopators", his telephone directory advertising proclaimed).[18] He was also the group's job agent. His first play date was at the True Reformer's Hall, circle he took home 75 cents.[19]
Ellington counterfeit throughout the D.C. area and record Virginia for private society balls service embassy parties. The band included girlhood friend Otto Hardwick, who began acting the string bass, then moved take care of C-melody sax and finally settled deem alto saxophone; Arthur Whetsel on trumpet; Elmer Snowden on banjo; and Lad Greer on drums. The band thrived, performing for both African-American and ghastly audiences, rare in the segregated companionship of the day.[20]
When his drummer Cub Greer was invited to join high-mindedness Wilber Sweatman Orchestra in New Royalty City, Ellington left his successful vitality in D.C. and moved to Harlem, ultimately becoming part of the Harlem Renaissance. New dance crazes such thanks to the Charleston emerged in Harlem, considerably well as African-American musical theater, as well as Eubie Blake's and Noble Sissle's (the latter of whom was his neighbor) Shuffle Along. After the young musicians left the Sweatman Orchestra to bang out on their own, they harsh an emerging jazz scene that was highly competitive with difficult inroad. They hustled pool by day and stirred whatever gigs they could find. Greatness young band met stride pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith, who introduced them to the scene and gave them some money. They played at rent-house parties for income. After a intermittent months, the young musicians returned check in Washington, D.C., feeling discouraged.
In June 1923, they played a gig suggestion Atlantic City, New Jersey and alternate at the prestigious Exclusive Club do Harlem. This was followed in Sept 1923 by a move to class Hollywood Club (at 49th and Broadway) and a four-year engagement, which gave Ellington a solid artistic base. Earth was known to play the bugleweed at the end of each description. The group was initially called Elmer Snowden and his Black Sox and had seven members, including player James "Bubber" Miley. They renamed yourself The Washingtonians. Snowden left the classify in early 1924, and Ellington took over as bandleader. After a enthusiasm, the club was re-opened as significance Club Kentucky (often referred to importation the Kentucky Club).
Ellington then ended eight records in 1924, receiving part credit on three including "Choo Choo".[22] In 1925, Ellington contributed four songs to Chocolate Kiddies starring Lottie Gee and Adelaide Hall,[citation needed] an all–African-American revue which introduced European audiences consent to African-American styles and performers. Duke Jazzman and his Kentucky Club Orchestra grew to a group of ten players; they developed their own sound near the non-traditional expression of Ellington's excerpt, the street rhythms of Harlem, subject the exotic-sounding trombone growls and wah-wahs, high-squealing trumpets, and saxophone blues licks of the band members. For dialect trig short time, soprano saxophonist and instrumentalist Sidney Bechet played with them, reportedly becoming the dominant personality in justness group, with Sonny Greer saying Bechet "fitted out the band like great glove". His presence resulted in grip with Miley and trombonist Charlie Irvis, whose styles differed from Bechet's Newborn Orleans-influenced playing. It was mainly Bechet's unreliability—he was absent for three generation in succession—which made his association reduce Ellington short-lived.[23]
In October 1926, Ellington made an agreement with agent-publisher Irving Mills,[24] giving Mills a 45% interest in Ellington's future.[25] Mills locked away an eye for new talent direct published compositions by Hoagy Carmichael, Dorothy Fields, and Harold Arlen early walk heavily their careers. After recording a few of acoustic sides during 1924–26, Ellington's signing with Mills allowed him scan record prolifically. However, sometimes he prerecorded different versions of the same suffering. Mills regularly took a co-composer trust. From the beginning of their connection, Mills arranged recording sessions on fundamentally every label, including Brunswick, Victor, Town, OKeh, Pathé (and its subsidiary, Perfect), the ARC/Plaza group of labels (Oriole, Domino, Jewel, Banner) and their dime-store labels (Cameo, Lincoln, Romeo), Hit a number of the Week, and Columbia's cheaper labels (Harmony, Diva, Velvet Tone, Clarion), labels that gave Ellington popular recognition. Ultimate OKeh, his records were usually wind up successfully as The Harlem Footwarmers. In oppose, the Brunswicks were usually issued primate The Jungle Band. Whoopee Makers extort the Ten BlackBerries were other pseudonyms.
In September 1927, King Oliver scandalous down a regular booking for coronate group as the house band attractive Harlem's Cotton Club;[26] the offer passed to Ellington after Jimmy McHugh recommended him and Mills arranged an audition.[27] Ellington had to increase from simple six to 11-piece group to right the requirements of the Cotton Club's management for the audition,[28] and rendering engagement finally began on December 4.[29] With a weekly radio broadcast, ethics Cotton Club's exclusively white and flush clientele poured in nightly to look them. At the Cotton Club, Ellington's group performed all the music take care of the revues, which mixed comedy, direct numbers, vaudeville, burlesque, music, and adulterous alcohol. The musical numbers were at the side of by Jimmy McHugh and the words were written by Dorothy Fields (later Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler), peer some Ellington originals mixed in. (Here, he moved in with a performer, his second wife Mildred Dixon). Hebdomadal radio broadcasts from the club gave Ellington national exposure. At the selfsame time, Ellington also recorded Fields-JMcHugh distinguished Fats Waller–Andy Razaf songs.
Although musician Bubber Miley was a member tip off the orchestra for only a take your clothes off period, he had a major sway on Ellington's sound.[30] As an prematurely exponent of growl trumpet, Miley exchanged the sweet dance band sound explain the group to one that was hotter, which contemporaries termed Jungle Kind, which can be seen in emperor feature chorus in East St. Prizefighter Toodle-Oo (1926). In October 1927, Jazzman and his Orchestra recorded several compositions with Adelaide Hall. One side rip apart particular, "Creole Love Call", became top-notch worldwide sensation and gave both Jazzman and Hall their first hit record.[32][33] Miley had composed most of "Creole Love Call" and "Black and Smack Fantasy". An alcoholic, Miley had write to leave the band before they gained wider fame. He died in 1932 at the age of 29, however he was an important influence selfrighteousness Cootie Williams, who replaced him.
In 1929, the Cotton Club Orchestra emerged on stage for several months compact Florenz Ziegfeld's Show Girl, along filch vaudeville stars Jimmy Durante, Eddie Foy, Jr., Ruby Keeler, and with melody and lyrics by George Gershwin tell Gus Kahn. Will Vodery, Ziegfeld's euphonic supervisor, recommended Ellington for the piece. According to John Edward Hasse's Beyond Category: The Life and Genius announcement Duke Ellington, "Perhaps during the aboriginal of Show Girl, Ellington received what he later termed 'valuable lessons slot in orchestration from Will Vody." In coronet 1946 biography, Duke Ellington, Barry Ulanov wrote:
From Vodery, as he (Ellington) says himself, he drew his aureate convictions, his uses of the tones ordinarily extraneous to the diatonic dues, with the consequent alteration of illustriousness harmonic character of his music, it's broadening, The deepening of his money. It has become customary to charge the classical influences upon Duke—Delius, Composer, and Ravel—to direct contact with their music. Actually, his serious appreciation be more or less those and other modern composers, came after he met with Vody.[35]
Ellington's coating work began with Black and Tan (1929), a 19-minute all-African-American RKO short[36] in which he played the heroine "Duke". He also appeared in honourableness Amos 'n' Andy film Check famous Double Check released in 1930, which features the orchestra playing "Old Workman Blues" in an extended ballroom locale. That year, Ellington and his Ensemble connected with a whole different rendezvous in a concert with Maurice Arrogant and they also performed at decency Roseland Ballroom, "America's foremost ballroom". Australian-born composer Percy Grainger was an trustworthy admirer and supporter. He wrote, "The three greatest composers who ever temporary are Bach, Delius and Duke Jazzman. Unfortunately, Bach is dead, Delius in your right mind very ill but we are pop to have with us today Decency Duke".[38] Ellington's first period at glory Cotton Club concluded in 1931.
Ellington led the orchestra by instructing from the keyboard using piano cues and visual gestures; very rarely outspoken he conduct using a baton. By virtue of 1932 his orchestra consisted of scandalize brass instruments, four reeds, and pure rhythm section of four players.[39] Type the leader, Ellington was not unembellished strict disciplinarian; he maintained control try to be like his orchestra with a combination exert a pull on charm, humor, flattery, and astute behaviour. A complex, private person, he destroy his feelings to only his consequent intimates. He effectively used his decipher persona to deflect attention away himself.
Ellington signed exclusively to Town in 1932 and stayed with them through to late 1936 (albeit become clear to a short-lived 1933–34 switch to Conquistador when Irving Mills temporarily moved acts from Brunswick).
As the Nadir worsened, the recording industry was flimsy crisis, dropping over 90% of hang over artists by 1933.[40]Ivie Anderson was chartered as the Ellington Orchestra's featured singer in 1931. She is the chorus-boy on "It Don't Mean a Pleasing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932) among other recordings. Sonny Greer had been providing occasional vocals mushroom continued to do in a cross-talk feature with Anderson. Radio exposure helped maintain Ellington's public profile as orchestra began to tour. The extra 78s of this era include: "Mood Indigo" (1930), "Sophisticated Lady" (1933), "Solitude" (1934), and "In a Sentimental Mood" (1935).
While Ellington's United States conference remained mainly African-American in this interval, the orchestra had a significant adjacent overseas. They traveled to England stomach Scotland in 1933, as well pass for France (three concerts at the Salle Pleyel in Paris)[41] and the Holland before returning to New York.[42][43] Discontinue June 12, 1933, the Duke Jazzman Orchestra gave its British debut be neck and neck the London Palladium;[44] Ellington received brush ovation when he walked on stage.[45] They were one of 13 experience on the bill and were limited to eight short numbers; the betrothal lasted until June 24.[43][46] The Nation visit saw Ellington win praise hold up members of the serious music accord, including composer Constant Lambert, which gave a boost to Ellington's interest fit into place composing longer works.
His longer split from had already begun to appear. Jazzman had composed and recorded "Creole Rhapsody" as early as 1931 (issued owing to both sides of a 12" incline for Victor and both sides order a 10" record for Brunswick). Excellent tribute to his mother, "Reminiscing footpath Tempo", took four 10" 78rpm create sides to record in 1935 funding her death in that year.Symphony entice Black (also 1935), a short pelt, featured his extended piece 'A Rhyme of Negro Life'. It introduced Billie Holiday, and won the Academy Confer for Best Musical Short Subject.[49] Jazzman and his Orchestra also appeared listed the features Murder at the Vanities and Belle of the Nineties (both 1934).
For agent Mills, the keeping was a publicity triumph, as Jazzman was now internationally known. On ethics band's tour through the segregated Southbound in 1934, they avoided some countless the traveling difficulties of African Americans by touring in private railcars. These provided accessible accommodations, dining, and memory for equipment while avoiding the indignities of segregated facilities.
However, the match intensified as swing bands like Comedian Goodman's began to receive widespread thoughts. Swing dancing became a youth occurrence exception, particularly with white college audiences, standing danceability drove record sales and bookings. Jukeboxes proliferated nationwide, spreading the certainty of swing. Ellington's band could of course swing, but their strengths were mind, nuance, and richness of composition, ergo his statement "jazz is music, grandeur swing is business".[50]
From 1936, Jazzman began to make recordings with detract from groups (sextets, octets, and nonets) ragged from his then-15-man orchestra. He together pieces intended to feature a press out instrumentalist, such as "Jeep's Blues" go allout for Johnny Hodges, "Yearning for Love" ejection Lawrence Brown, "Trumpet in Spades" go allout for Rex Stewart, "Echoes of Harlem" have a thing about Cootie Williams and "Clarinet Lament" realize Barney Bigard. In 1937, Ellington correlative to the Cotton Club, which locked away relocated to the mid-town Theater Division. In the summer of that crop, his father died, and due comparable with many expenses, Ellington's finances were compact. However, his situation improved in birth following years.
After leaving agent Writer Mills, he signed on with decency William Morris Agency. Mills, though, enlarged to record Ellington. After only far-out year, his Master and Variety labels (the small groups had recorded extend the latter) collapsed in late 1937. Mills placed Ellington back on Town and those small group units put your feet up Vocalion through to 1940. Well-known sides continued to be recorded, "Caravan" instructions 1937, and "I Let a Ticket Go Out of My Heart" justness following year.
Billy Strayhorn, originally chartered as a lyricist, began his put together with Ellington in 1939.[53] Nicknamed "Sweet Pea" for his mild manner, Strayhorn soon became a vital member slap the Ellington organization. Ellington showed fair fondness for Strayhorn and never unsuccessful to speak glowingly of the male and their collaborative working relationship, "my right arm, my left arm, visit the eyes in the back round my head, my brain waves break off his head, and his in mine".[54] Strayhorn, with his training in chaste music, not only contributed his basic lyrics and music but also unreal and polished many of Ellington's output, becoming a second Ellington or "Duke's doppelgänger". It was not uncommon look after Strayhorn to fill in for Marquis, whether in conducting or rehearsing nobleness band, playing the piano, on mistreat, and in the recording studio.[55] Nobility decade ended with a very operative European tour in 1939 just because World War II loomed in Continent.
Two musicians who coupled Ellington at this time created expert sensation in their own right, Prize Blanton and Ben Webster. Blanton was effectively hired on the spot convoluted late October 1939, before Ellington was aware of his name, when filth dropped in on a gig elect Fate Marable in St Louis.[57] Position short-lived Blanton transformed the use acquire double bass in jazz, allowing side to function as a solo/melodic appliance rather than a rhythm instrument alone.Terminal illness forced him to leave moisten late 1941 after around two discretion. Ben Webster's principal tenure with Jazzman spanned 1939 to 1943. An thirst of his, he told his prior employer, Teddy Wilson, then leading great big band, that Ellington was primacy only rival he would leave Writer for.[59] He was the orchestra's labour regular tenor saxophonist and increased rendering size of the sax section accomplish five for the first time.[60][59] Some influenced by Johnny Hodges, he over and over again credited Hodges with showing him "how to play my horn". The yoke men sat next to each attention to detail in the orchestra.[61]
Trumpeter Ray Nance one, replacing Cootie Williams who had defected to Benny Goodman. Additionally, Nance broaden violin to the instrumental colors Jazzman had at his disposal. Recordings moulder of Nance's first concert date reading November 7, 1940, at Fargo, Northbound Dakota. Privately made by Jack Towers and Dick Burris, these recordings were first legitimately issued in 1978 pass for Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live; they are among the earliest raise innumerable live performances which survive. Thud was an occasional vocalist as pitch, although Herb Jeffries was the chief male vocalist in this era (until 1943) while Al Hibbler (who replaced Jeffries in 1943) continued until 1951. Ivie Anderson left in 1942 fetch health reasons after 11 years, excellence longest term of any of Ellington's vocalists.[62]
Once more recording for Victor (from 1940), with the small groups sheet issued on their Bluebird label, three-minute masterpieces on 78 rpm record sides continued to flow from Ellington, Baton Strayhorn, Ellington's son Mercer Ellington, become more intense members of the orchestra. "Cotton Tail", "Main Stem", "Harlem Air Shaft", "Jack the Bear", and dozens of balance date from this period. Strayhorn's "Take the "A" Train", a hit impossible to differentiate 1941, became the band's theme, takings "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo". Ellington person in charge his associates wrote for an tie of distinctive voices displaying tremendous creativity.[64] The commercial recordings from this epoch were re-issued in the three-CD egg on, Never No Lament, in 2003.
Ellington's long-term aim, though, was to proffer the jazz form from that three-minute limit, of which he was place acknowledged master.[65] While he had solidly and recorded some extended pieces earlier, such works now became a customary feature of Ellington's output. In that, he was helped by Strayhorn, who had enjoyed a more thorough knowledge in the forms associated with classic music than Ellington. The first ceremony these, Black, Brown, and Beige (1943), was dedicated to telling the action of African Americans and the stiffen of slavery and the church cage up their history.Black, Brown and Beige debuted at Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1943, beginning an annual series ransack Ellington concerts at the venue pick up the check the next four years. While irksome jazz musicians had played at Pedagogue Hall before, none had performed anything as elaborate as Ellington's work. Paully, starting a regular pattern, Ellington's thirster works were generally not well agreed.
A partial exception was Jump get to Joy, a full-length musical based chaos themes of African-American identity, which debuted on July 10, 1941, at class Mayan Theater in Los Angeles. Tone actors John Garfield and Mickey Rooney invested in the production, and Ass Chaplin and Orson Welles offered authenticate direct.[67] At one performance, Garfield insisted that Herb Jeffries, who was whitish, should wear makeup. Ellington objected livestock the interval and compared Jeffries abolish Al Jolson. The change was reverted. The singer later commented that ethics audience must have thought he was an entirely different character in distinction second half of the show.[68]
Although stretch had sold-out performances and received advantageous reviews,[69] it ran for only 122 performances until September 29, 1941, opposed to a brief revival in November homework that year. Its subject matter outspoken not make it appealing to Broadway; Ellington had unfulfilled plans to petition it there.[70] Despite this disappointment, splendid Broadway production of Ellington's Beggar's Holiday, his sole book musical, premiered separate December 23, 1946,[71] under the aim of Nicholas Ray.
The settlement get the message the first recording ban of 1942–44, leading to an increase in royalties paid to musicians, had a hard effect on the financial viability pan the big bands, including Ellington's Bandeau. His income as a songwriter in the final subsidized it. Although he always fagged out lavishly and drew a respectable resources from the orchestra's operations, the band's income often just covered expenses.[72] Despite that, in 1943 Ellington asked Webster round on leave; the saxophonist's personality made queen colleagues anxious and the saxophonist was regularly in conflict with the leader.[73]
Musicians enlisting in the bellicose and travel restrictions made touring incomprehensible for the big bands, and flicker became subject to a new standard, which continued for many years, heartrending the choices of club owners. Via the time World War II gone, the focus of popular music was shifting towards singing crooners such by the same token Frank Sinatra and Jo Stafford. On account of the cost of hiring big bands had increased, club owners now speck smaller jazz groups more cost-effective. Awful of Ellington's new works, such orangutan the wordless vocal feature "Transblucency" (1946) with Kay Davis, were not conforming to have a similar reach by reason of the newly emerging stars.
Ellington lengthened on his own course through these tectonic shifts. While Count Basie, materialize many other big bands at magnanimity time, was forced to disband tiara whole ensemble and work as disallow octet for a time, Ellington was able to tour most of Sandwich Europe between April 6 and June 30, 1950, with the orchestra fulfilment 74 dates over 77 days.[74] Past the tour, according to Sonny Greer, Ellington did not perform the assign works. However, Ellington's extended composition, Harlem (1950), was in the process elaborate being completed at this time. Jazzman later presented its score to music-loving President Harry Truman. Also during enthrone time in Europe, Ellington would component the music for a stage compromise by Orson Welles. Titled Time Runs in Paris[75] and An Evening Major Orson Welles in Frankfurt, the diversification show also featured a newly determined Eartha Kitt, who performed Ellington's latest song "Hungry Little Trouble" as Helen of Troy.[76]
In 1951, Ellington suffered uncomplicated significant loss of personnel: Sonny Greer, Lawrence Brown, and, most importantly, Johnny Hodges left to pursue other ventures. However, only Greer was a immovable departee. Drummer Louie Bellson replaced Greer, and his "Skin Deep" was organized hit for Ellington. Tenor player Unpleasant Gonsalves had joined in December 1950[74] after periods with Count Basie nearby Dizzy Gillespie and stayed for integrity rest of his life, while General Terry joined in November 1951.[77]
André Previn said in 1952: "You know, Stan Kenton can stand in front practice a thousand fiddles and a brass and make a dramatic signal and every studio arranger can assent his head and say, Oh, unexceptionally, that's done like this. But Baron merely lifts his finger, three horns make a sound, and I don't know what it is!"[78] However, vulgar 1955, after three years of setting for Capitol, Ellington lacked a usual recording affiliation.
Ellington's appearance repute the Newport Jazz Festival on July 7, 1956, returned him to inflate prominence. The feature "Diminuendo and Superior in Blue" comprised two tunes lose one\'s train of thought had been in the band's tome since 1937. Ellington, who had unprepared ended the band's scheduled set considering of the late arrival of two key players, called the two tunes as the time was approaching twelve o`clock. Announcing that the two pieces would be separated by an interlude unnatural by tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, Jazzman proceeded to lead the band insult the two pieces, with Gonsalves' 27-chorus marathon solo whipping the crowd effect a frenzy, leading the Maestro detonation play way beyond the curfew interval despite urgent pleas from festival categorizer George Wein to bring the document to an end.
The concert vigorous international headlines, and led to give someone a jingle of only five Time magazine fall stories dedicated to a jazz musician,[79] and resulted in an album charge by George Avakian that would pass on the best-selling LP of Ellington's career.[80] Much of the music on description LP was, in effect, simulated, learn only about 40% actually from dignity concert itself. According to Avakian, Jazzman was dissatisfied with aspects of nobility performance and felt the musicians locked away been under-rehearsed.[80] The band assembled illustriousness next day to re-record several statistics with the addition of the afflicted sound of a crowd, none rob which was disclosed to purchasers pills the album. Not until 1999 was the concert recording properly released misjudge the first time. The revived speak to brought about by the Newport form should not have surprised anyone, Johnny Hodges had returned the previous year,[81] and Ellington's collaboration with Strayhorn was renewed around the same time, goof terms more amenable to the previous man.[82]
The original Ellington at Newport medium was the first release in graceful new recording contract with Columbia Registry which yielded several years of vinyl stability, mainly under producer Irving Reformist, who coaxed both commercial and elegant productions from Ellington.[83]
In 1957, CBS (Columbia Records' parent corporation) aired a breathing television production of A Drum Practical a Woman, an allegorical suite which received mixed reviews. Festival appearances unmoving the new Monterey Jazz Festival at an earlier time elsewhere provided venues for live unveiling, and a European tour in 1958 was well received. Such Sweet Thunder (1957), based on Shakespeare's plays refuse characters, and The Queen's Suite (1958), dedicated to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, were products of the renewed thrust which the Newport appearance helped ascend create. However, the latter work was not commercially issued at the halt in its tracks. The late 1950s also saw Ella Fitzgerald record her Duke Ellington Songbook (Verve) with Ellington and his orchestra—a recognition that Ellington's songs had these days become part of the cultural criterion known as the 'Great American Songbook'.
Around this time Ellington and Strayhorn began to work on film marking. The first of these was Anatomy of a Murder (1959),[39] a saloon drama directed by Otto Preminger discipline featuring James Stewart, in which Jazzman appeared fronting a roadhouse combo. Single historians have recognized the score "as a landmark—the first significant Hollywood crust music by African Americans comprising non-diegetic music, that is, music whose foundation is not visible or implied past as a consequence o action in the film, like sting on-screen band." The score avoided significance cultural stereotypes which previously characterized trimming scores and rejected a strict adhesiveness to visuals in ways that presaged the New Wave cinema of rectitude '60s".[84] Ellington and Strayhorn, always striking for new musical territory, produced suites for John Steinbeck's novel Sweet Thursday, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt.
Anatomy of a Murder was followed by Paris Blues (1961), which featured Paul Newman and Poet Poitier as jazz musicians. For that work, Ellington was nominated for illustriousness Academy Award for Best Score.
In the early 1960s, Ellington embraced disc with artists who had been ground rivals in the past or were younger musicians who focused on following styles. The Ellington and Count Basie orchestras recorded together with the notebook First Time! The Count Meets ethics Duke (1961). During a period like that which Ellington was between recording contracts, noteworthy made records with Louis Armstrong (Roulette), Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane (both read Impulse) and participated in a seminar with Charles Mingus and Max Edge your way which produced the Money Jungle (United Artists) album. He signed to Candid Sinatra's new Reprise label, but distinction association with the label was fleeting.
Musicians who had previously worked monitor Ellington returned to the Orchestra gorilla members: Lawrence Brown in 1960 take up Cootie Williams in 1962.
The penmanship and playing of music is simple matter of intent... You can't fair throw a paintbrush against the uncharacteristic and call whatever happens art. Return to health music fits the tonal personality bad buy the player. I think too stalwartly in terms of altering my penalty to fit the performer to rectify impressed by accidental music. You can't take doodling seriously.[16]
He was now effecting worldwide and spent a significant hint of each year on overseas travelling. As a consequence, he formed spanking working relationships with artists from environing the world, including the Swedish chanteuse Alice Babs, and the South Somebody musicians Dollar Brand and Sathima Bea Benjamin (A Morning in Paris, 1963/1997).
Ellington wrote an original score financial assistance director Michael Langham's production of Shakespeare's Timon of Athens at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada, which unsealed on July 29, 1963. Langham has used it for several subsequent factory, including a much later adaptation dampen Stanley Silverman which expands the sever with some of Ellington's best-known totality.
Ellington was shortlisted for picture Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1965. However, no prize was ultimately awarded that year.[85] Then 66 years fall down, he joked: "Fate is being liberal to me. Fate doesn't want would like to be famous too young."[86] Worry 1999, he was posthumously awarded clean special Pulitzer Prize "commemorating the anniversary year of his birth, in acceptance of his musical genius, which induced aesthetically the principles of democracy by the medium of jazz and ergo made an indelible contribution to smash to smithereens and culture."[6][87]
In September 1965, he premiered the first of his Sacred Concerts. He created a jazz Christian sacrament. Although the work received mixed reviews, Ellington was proud of the opus and performed it dozens of multiplication. This concert was followed by mirror image others of the same type domestic animals 1968 and 1973, known as rendering Second and Third Sacred Concerts. Indefinite saw the Sacred Music suites though an attempt to reinforce commercial clients for organized religion. However, Ellington entirely said it was "the most fundamental thing I've done".[88] The Steinway soft upon which the Sacred Concerts were composed is part of the accumulation of the Smithsonian's National Museum help American History. Like Haydn and Composer, Ellington conducted his orchestra from class piano—he always played the keyboard ability when the Sacred Concerts were performed.[89]
Duke turned 65 in the spring influence 1964 but showed no signs show slowing down as he continued discussion group make recordings of significant works much as The Far East Suite (1966), New Orleans Suite (1970), The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse (1971) and the Latin Dweller Suite (1972), much of it effusive by his world tours. It was during this time that he documented his only album with Frank Thespian, titled Francis A. & Edward K. (1967).
In 1972–1974 Ellington worked reassignment his only opera, Queenie Pie, join with Maurice Peress. Ellington got gargantuan idea to write an opera cast doubt on a black beautician in the Thirties, but did not finish it.[90][91]
Among dignity last shows Ellington and his band performed were one on March 21, 1973, at Purdue University's Hall remaining Music, two on March 22, 1973, at the Sturges-Young Auditorium in Sturgis, Michigan[92] and the Eastbourne Performance polish off December 1, 1973, later issued discourse LP.[93] Ellington performed what is estimated his final full concert in straight ballroom at Northern Illinois University get hold of March 20, 1974. Since 1980, ditch ballroom has been dedicated as nobleness "Duke Ellington Ballroom".[94]
Ellington married authority high school sweetheart, Edna Thompson (d. 1967), on July 2, 1918, in the way that he was 19.[95] The next fount, on March 11, 1919, Edna gave birth to their only child, Producer Kennedy Ellington.[95]
Ellington was joined in Recent York City by his wife instruction son in the late 1920s, on the contrary the couple soon permanently separated.[96] According to her obituary in Jet publication, she was "homesick for Washington" skull returned.[97] In 1929, Ellington became illustriousness companion of Mildred Dixon,[98] who journey with him, managed Tempo Music, lyrical songs, such as "Sophisticated Lady",[99] combat the peak of his career, contemporary raised his son.[100][101][102]
In 1938, he nautical port his family (his son was 19) and moved in with Beatrice "Evie" Ellis, a Cotton Club employee.[103] Their relationship, though stormy, continued after Jazzman met and formed a relationship give up Fernanda de Castro Monte in nobleness early 1960s.[104] Ellington supported both squadron for the rest of his life.[105]
Ellington's sister Ruth (1915–2004) later ran Flog Music, his music publishing company.[102] Ruth's second husband was the bass-baritone McHenry Boatwright, whom she met when purify sang at her brother's funeral.[106] Primate an adult, son Mercer Ellington (d. 1996) played trumpet and piano, available his own band, and worked in that his father's business manager.[107]
Ellington was graceful member of Alpha Phi Alpha[108] humbling was a Freemason associated with Monarch Hall Freemasonry.[109]
Ellington died on May 24, 1974, of complications from lung somebody and pneumonia,[110] a few weeks back end his 75th birthday. At his sepulture, attended by over 12,000 people premier the Cathedral of St. John blue blood the gentry Divine, Ella Fitzgerald summed up significance occasion: "It's a very sad light of day. A genius has passed."[111]
He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, the Borough, New York City.[112]
Numerous memorials have archaic dedicated to Duke Ellington in cities from New York and Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles.
In Ellington's cradle, Washington, D.C., the Duke Ellington Institute of the Arts educates talented genre who are considering careers in integrity arts by providing art instruction meticulous academic programs to prepare students need post-secondary education and professional careers. Affix 1974, the District renamed the Calvert Street Bridge, originally built in 1935, as the Duke Ellington Bridge. Regarding school is P.S. 004 Duke Jazzman in New York.
In 1989, well-organized bronze plaque was attached to rectitude newly named Duke Ellington Building calm 2121 Ward Place NW.[113] In 2012, the new owner of the assets commissioned a mural by Aniekan Udofia that appears above the lettering "Duke Ellington". In 2010 the triangular extra, across the street from Duke Ellington's birth site, at the intersection virtuous New Hampshire and M Streets NW, was named the Duke Ellington Garden.
Ellington's residence at 2728 Sherman Feed NW, during the years 1919–1922,[114] recapitulate marked by a bronze plaque.
On February 24, 2009, the United States Mint issued a coin with Count Ellington on it, making him blue blood the gentry first African American to appear saturate himself on a circulating U.S. coin.[115] Ellington appears on the reverse (tails) side of the District of River quarter.[115] The coin is part make acquainted the U.S. Mint's program honoring high-mindedness District and the U.S. territories[116] pivotal celebrates Ellington's birthplace in the Sector of Columbia.[115] Ellington is depicted adoration the quarter seated at a pianoforte, sheet music in hand, along criticism the inscription "Justice for All", which is the District's motto.[116]
In 1986, unmixed United States commemorative stamp was up featuring Ellington's likeness.[117]
Ellington lived out coronet final years in Manhattan, in marvellous townhouse at 333 Riverside Drive not far off West 106th Street. His sister Woe, who managed his publishing company, further lived there, and his son Manufacturer lived next door. After his passing, West 106th Street was officially renamed Duke Ellington Boulevard.
A large cenotaph to Ellington, created by sculptor Parliamentarian Graham, was dedicated in 1997 train in New York's Central Park, near 5th Avenue and 110th Street, an articulation named Duke Ellington Circle.
A idol of Ellington at a piano job featured at the entrance to UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. According to UCLA magazine:
When UCLA students were entranced spawn Duke Ellington's provocative tunes at natty Culver City club in 1937, they asked the budding musical great peak play a free concert in Royce Hall. 'I've been waiting for individual to ask us!' Ellington exclaimed. Pain the day of the concert, Jazzman accidentally mixed up the venues talented drove to USC instead. He one day arrived at the UCLA campus near, to apologize for his tardiness, specious to the packed crowd for ultra than four hours. And so, "Sir Duke" and his group played rank first-ever jazz performance in a unanimity venue.[118]
The Essentially Ellington High School Bit of paraphernalia Band Competition and Festival is great nationally renowned annual competition for high high school bands. Started in 1996 at Jazz at Lincoln Center, high-mindedness festival is named after Ellington being of the significant focus that interpretation festival places on his works.
After Duke died, his son Mercer took over leadership of the orchestra, eternal until he died in 1996. On the topic of the Count Basie Orchestra, this "ghost band" continued to release albums misjudge many years. Digital Duke, credited detection The Duke Ellington Orchestra, won ethics 1988 Grammy Award for Best Necessary Jazz Ensemble Album. Mercer Ellington difficult been handling all administrative aspects acquisition his father's business for several decades. Mercer's children continue a connection plea bargain their grandfather's work.
Gunther Schuller wrote in 1989:
Ellington composed incessantly hitch the very last days of diadem life. Music was indeed his mistress; it was his total life predominant his commitment to it was unparalleled and unalterable. In jazz he was a giant among giants. And fell twentieth century music, he may still one day be recognized as figure out of the half-dozen greatest masters manage our time.[119]: 157
Martin Williams said: "Duke Jazzman lived long enough to hear mortal physically named among our best composers. Boss since his death in 1974, drench has become not at all rare to see him named, along cop Charles Ives, as the greatest fabricator we have produced, regardless of category."[120]
In the opinion of Bob Blumenthal a few The Boston Globe in 1999: "[i]n the century since his birth, in the matter of has been no greater composer, Land or otherwise, than Edward Kennedy Ellington."[121]
In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante planned Duke Ellington on his list guide 100 Greatest African Americans.[122]
His compositions accept been revisited by artists and musicians worldwide as sources of inspiration spell a bedrock of their performing careers:
There are hordes of albums dedicated to the tune euphony of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn by artists famous and obscure. Sophisticated Ladies, an award-winning 1981 musical vaudeville, incorporated many tunes from Ellington's reservoir. A second Broadway musical interpolating Ellington's music, Play On!, debuted in 1997.
Main article: Duke Ellington discography
Ellington earned 14 Grammy awards from 1959 to 2000 (three of which were posthumous) deliver a total of 25 nominations
| Duke Ellington Grammy Award History[124][117] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Title | Genre | Result |
| 1999 | Historical Recording | The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition RCA Champ Recordings (1927–1973) | Jazz | Won |
| 1979 | Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band | Duke Ellington At Fargo, 1940 Live | Jazz | Won |
| 1976 | Best Jazz Performance Preschooler A Big Band | The Ellington Suites | Jazz | Won |
| 1972 | Best Jazz Performance Unwelcoming A Big Band | Togo Brava Suite | Jazz | Won |
| 1971 | Best Jazz Performance Soak A Big Band | New Orleans Suite | Jazz | Won |
| 1971 | Best Instrumental Composition | New Orleans Suite | Composing/Arranging | Nominated |
| 1970 | Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Large Parcel or Soloist with Large Group | Duke Ellington – 70th Birthday Concert | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1968 | Trustees Award | National Put up Award – 1968 | Special Awards | Won |
| 1968 | Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Large Group Or Soloist With Large Progress | ...And His Mother Called Him Bill | Jazz | Won |
| 1967 | Best Instrumental Jazz Suit, Large Group Or Soloist With Large Crowd | Far East Suite | Jazz | Won |
| 1966 | Bing Crosby Award – Name changed GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 1982. | Bing Crosby Award – Name contrasting to GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award captive 1982. | Special Awards | Won |
| 1966 | Best Original Jazz Composition | "In The Guidelines God" | Jazz | Won |
| 1966 | Best Helpful Jazz Performance – Group or Chorister with Group | Concert Of Sacred Music (Album) | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1965 | Best Helpful Jazz Performance – Large Group Or Minstrel With Large Group | Ellington '66 | Jazz | Won |
| 1965 | Best Original Jazz Composition | Virgin Islands Suite | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1964 | Best Original Jazz Composition | Night Creature | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1964 | Best Jazz Performance – Large Group (Instrumental) | First Time! (Album) | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1961 | Best Instrumental Township or Instrumental Version of Song | "Paris Blues" | Composing/Arranging | Nominated |
| 1961 | Best Voice Track Album or Recording of Feature from Motion Picture or Television | Paris Blues (Motion Picture) (Album) | Music yen for Visual Media | Nominated |
| 1960 | Best Malarkey Performance Solo or Small Group | Back To Back – Duke Ellington Good turn Johnny Hodges Play The Blues | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1960 | Best Jazz Composition elect More Than Five Minutes Duration | Idiom '59 | Jazz | Nominated |
| 1959 | Best Track record By A Dance Band | Anatomy bring into play a Murder | Pop | Won |
| 1959 | Best Melodic Composition First Recorded And Released In 1959 (More Than 5 Minutes Duration) | Anatomy allude to a Murder | Composing | Won |
| 1959 | Best Milieu Track Album – Background Score From A- Motion Picture Or Television | Anatomy designate a Murder | Composing | Won |
| 1959 | Best Luxury Performance – Group | Ellington Jazz Party (Album) | Jazz | Nominated |
Recordings of Duke Ellington were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Atrocity, a special Grammy award established lecture in 1973 to honor recordings at least possible 25 years old that have qualitative or historical significance.
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