Ellington's Bandstand

About

Born Edward Kennedy Ellington in Washington, D.C. Mother Daisy was the daughter of a police captain. Father James was a butler who sometimes worked at the White House. They called me Duke because I carried myself like one -- even as a kid. I turned down an art scholarship to pursue music. I led the Duke Ellington Orchestra for over fifty years. Three thousand compositions. More than any other American composer. I wrote for my musicians specifically -- I didn't write for trumpet, I wrote for Cootie Williams' trumpet. Each person's sound was my instrument. I played the Cotton Club. Carnegie Hall. The White House. Every continent. 'There are two kinds of music: good and bad.' I tried to play the good kind.

Skills

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