Duke Ellington - Jazz Composer, Band Leader, and Pianist
Let’s learn about one of the most important musicians and composers in jazz history, Duke Ellington.
More about Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899. He was a composer, pianist, and band leader. Born in Washington DC, he started playing the piano at an early age. He later moved to New York City in the 1920s and started his own jazz ensemble which performed regularly at the world-famous Cotton Club in Harlem. He composed over a thousand compositions. Some of his most popular are: Take the A Train, C Jam Blues, Satin Doll, and It Don’t Mean a Thing. He died on May 24, 1974 at the age of 75.
