Duke Ellington Research Paper

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Said to be the father of jazz, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, born on April 29, 1899, was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra. Duke Ellington was known and is remembered for his unique and profound style of jazz music. His development in jazz was one of the most spectacular in the history of music, as demonstrated by more than fifty years of sustained achievement as an artist which led him to be known as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Duke’s music was so original, he called it “American Music” rather than jazz. Based on his success, it’s unlikely to think that he was not even attracted to music in his younger years, however music clearly became a very important part of his life, as he still reigns …show more content…

When he was seven, Duke Ellington began piano lessons with Marietta Clinkscales. His mother wanted to surround him with respectable women to strengthen his manners, and teach him how to be a gentleman. Thus, he earned the nickname, “Duke”. During his younger years, Duke Ellington preferred to play baseball over piano, but he later developed his love for music by sneaking into pool rooms to listen to the pool room pianists play. He then began listening and imitating ragtime pianists in Washington D.C, Atlantic City, and Philadelphia with private lessons from Henry Lee Grant, a music teacher at Dunbar High School. He also got additional guidance from the numerous pianists of his hometown as well as the band leader, Oliver "Doc" Perry, one of his many musical influences. Some of his other influences include Lester Dishman, Louis Brown, Turner Layton, Gertie Wells, Clarence Bowser, Sticky Mack, Blind Johnny, Cliff Jackson, Claude Hopkins, Phil Wurd, Caroline Thornton, Luckey Roberts, Eubie Blake, Joe Rochester, and Harvey Brooks. Duke worked hard on perfecting his music all through high school as he attended Armstrong Technical High in Washington D.C. In February 1917, three months before graduating, Ellington left high school to kickstart his career as a professional musician. To make money during the day, he made use of his artistic abilities by painting signs and posters at a sign painting business. Then at night, he lived a double life as a musician. This was just the start of his grand musical career and

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