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Music

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Submitted By kchumpette
Words 970
Pages 4
Alan Miller
Instruction Alex Powell
Music Appreciation
29 April 2012
Duke Ellington
(1899-1974)
Edwin Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C. He was a son of a butler who had occasionally worked at the White House. He was a major figure in our history of jazz music, his career spanned more than half a century. He started playing the piano in the jazz band, during that time he composed thousands of songs for the stage, screen and contemporary songbooks. He created the most distinctive sounds in Western music and he continued playing what is called today as American Music until shortly before his death. When he turned 7 years old he was called "Duke" because of his gentlemanly ways. He held fast to his own standards of innovation and stylishness. He wrote his first composition," Soda Fountain Rag," at the age of 15. He was considered among the world's greatest composers and musicians. The French goverment gave him their highest award, the Legion of Honor, while the government of the United States bestowed upon him with the highest civil honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He had played over 20,000 performances worldwide over the span of his 50-year career. He took his first piano lesson around age seven or eight and he didn't retain the lessons that long. He was more favored to play baseball as a youngster . Duke went on a vacation in Asbury Park and he heard a pianist named Harvey Brooks playing. Duke sought Harvey out in Philadelphia where Harvey showed Duke some ...Expand to read entire bio >pianistic tricks and shortcuts. Duke later recounted that, "When I got home I had a real yearning to play. I hadn’t been able to get off the ground before, but after hearing him I said to myself, ‘Man you’re going to have to do it.’” Thus the music career of Duke Ellington was born. Oliver “Doc” Perry and Louis Brown, taught Duke how to read music and helped improve his piano playing skills. His first band was called The Duke’s Serenaders, which was formed in 1917. The Duke married Edna Thompson. On March 11, 1919, he had his first child Mercer Kennedy Ellington. In 1923, Duke left the security that Washington offered him and moved to New York. It was also the year that Duke made his first recording. Duke and his renamed band, The Washingtonians played in several different clubs. Duke's band became the most sought after band in the United States and even throughout the world. The Jazz legend, Ellington had became the first black American to prominently feature on a United States coin in circulation with the release of a quarter honoring the District of Columbia. Ellington's fame rose to the rafters in the 1940s when he composed several masterworks, including "Concerto for Cootie," "Cotton Tail" and "Ko-Ko." Some of his most popular songs included "It Don't Mean a Thing( if It Ain't Got That Swing)," "Sophisticated Lady," "Prelude to a Kiss," "Solitude," and "Satin Doll." A number of his hits were sung by the impressive Ivie Anderson, a favorite female vocalist of Duke's band. It was Ellington's sense of musical drama that made him stand out. His blend of melodies, rhythms and subtle sonic movements gave audiences a new experience complex yet accessible jazz that made the heart swing. On May 24, 1974, at the age of 75, Duke Ellington died of lung cancer and pneumonia. His last words were, "Music is how I live, why I live and how I will be remembered." More than 12,000 people attended his funeral. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.

Duke Ellington - Love You Madly I love you so much that it makes my heart almost break. I love you no matter what you do. No matter if you are right or wrong, I will always love you. I just wanted to let you know that I love you so very much. There are better women out there in the world. There's no better woman out there better than you. I promise that to you that I'll keep you. I've told you before many times that I love you. I love you more and more as time goes on. If you could see how happy you and I are together. I dream about you while you are away from me every day. You smell beautiful to me every morning. You make me want to sing in the shower. If you wait good things will happen to you. So why rush and hurry when you can take your time & enjoy yourself. I'd be overjoyed to hear the love of my life say I love you dearly. I just wanted to make sure that you know that I love you so very much. I don't want anyone else but you. You are the only one for me. There are other women out there but I only want my true love, you. I only want you and to be with you. My eyes will never wander off of you. I will always love you. I don't want anyone else but you. I love you very, very much. The song was really great to here the Jazz is really great. I am from New Orleans and the great Louis Armstrong was very great to list to his music when I was gowning up. They have a big statue of Louis Armstrong and the Airport is also named after him.

Work Cited
Joseph Kerman and Gary Tomlinson." Duke Ellington." Listen. 7th ed. Bedford/St.Martin's. Boston: New York, 2012. pg 388
" Duke Ellington." 2012. Biography.com 29 April 2012 08:22. www.Biography.com
" Duke Ellington." 2012. Allaboutjazz.com 29 April 2012. www.Allaboutjazz.com

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