THE ULTIMATE
On this day, April 29th 1899, Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington was born,
Born in Washington D.C. Duke became a pianist, composer and leader of his own jazz orchestra. His band toured Europ and operated out of New York City from the 1920s, though his music may have been termed he preferred 'beyond category' transcending genre to take its place in American Music. In a career spannning six decades Duke Ellington composed over a thousand pieces, particularly for 78 rpm records lasting three minutes. In 1999 he received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Award for his music. His classics include 'It don't mean a thing, If it ain't got that swing' and 'Take the A Train'. He appeared in a number of films and composed stage musicals.
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