Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington – Biography

Born in 1899, Duke Ellington was born into an affluent, music-loving family in Washington, D.C. They often vacationed in Atlantic City and New York, where the young Ellington was able to learn from the likes of Fats Waller and Sidney Bechet. Soon enough he had formed his own jazz orchestra, and by 1927 began a lucrative residency at Harlem’s Cotton Club. It was here that he popularized jazz as a genre of elegance and sophistication.

Ellington’s influence on jazz — and American music as a whole — cannot be understated. In fact, it can’t even be quantified. Throughout his career, he wrote over 1,000 songs and remained highly prolific until his death in 1974. Keep reading below for Duke Ellington album reviews and accolades.


Discography


Accolades

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