Analyze the Duke Ellington Essay

-Birthday: April 29, 1899, Washington, D.C. -Death Day: May 24, 1974, New York City, NY

Mother - Daisy Kennedy Ellington Father - James Edward Ellington Son - Mercer Ellington Daughter - Brother - Sister - Spouse - Edna Thompson Pats Spouse(s) - Mildred dixon, Beatrice Ellis Granddaughter - Mercedes Ellington Grandson - Edward Kennedy Ellington II and Paul Mercer Ellington

-Patterson Elementary -Garrison Junior High School -Armstrong technical high school- Algebra, arithmetic, English, History, and Speech and Manners, African history was included too -Dropped out of Armstrong High School -Went to study music and art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

-Full Name: Edward Kennedy Ellington -Parents names: James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. -His family descended from slaves. -His parents were both pianists. -Encouraged by his parents to learn music and play the piano. -Was taught by the jazz pianist Harvey Brooks. -Nickname: \"Duke,\" after a friend said that he should have some sort of title for his musical talents.

-Bubber Miley and trombonist Joe (\"Tricky Sam\") Nanton. -Two of Duke Ellington's largest influences when he was first trying to find and create his own sound. -His mother taught him to have pride in himself and have an inner strength - He was taught to have racial pride in everything he did, by his high school

- Harvey Brooks - Oliver Perry- tutored Duke and became a mentor to him - Went to Burlesque theaters and learned about show business from them - Went to pool rooms to talk to famous pianist

-Soda jerk -The inspiration for his first song, \"Soda Fountain Rag.\" -First job selling peanuts at Washington Senators baseball games. -Freelance sign-painter from 1917 to 1919. -He had a messenger job with the U.S. Navy and State departments.

Painting and Drawing- Trained for a career as a commercial artist Baseball- He concentrated more on baseball than his schoolwork, but his mother thought that it was too dangerous for him

-Traveled very much throughout his musical career. -Always was moving around going from concert to concert. City to city. Town to town. -Even went around the world to Europe, South America and Australia. -Never traveled alone. -Always had a few band members along his side. -Even was on the road when he was ill. -Truly did have a gruesome travel schedule. -Was a music ambassador. -Ellington got advanced Lung Cancer. -Even with this large hurdle, still traveled and played concerts.

Materials - His mother tried to have him learn piano at an early age - He did not love it as much as he loved sports - Did not attend most of his lessons - He never really had formal music lessons after his piano lessons were discontinued -took piano lessons since he was 5 -always played the piano Techniques -watched some of the greats play -tried to emulate the greats' ways -set tempos -signaled band members -often establish the tone and color of the next piece -did this with a special introduction

-1960, Hollywood Walk of Fame, contribution to recording industry -1966, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. -1969, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US -1971, an Honorary PhD from the Berklee College of Music -1973, the Legion of Honor by France, its highest civilian honors. -1999, posthumous Special Pulitzer Prize for his lifetime contributions to music and culture

-1999 Historical Album 1979 Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band 1976 Best Jazz Performance By A Big Band 1972 Best Jazz Performance By A Big Band 1971 Best Jazz Performance By A Big Band 1968 Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Large Group or Soloist With Large Group 1967 Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Large Group or Soloist With Large Group 1966 Best Original Jazz Composition 1965 Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Large Group Or Soloist With Large Group 1959 Best Performance By A Dance Band 1959 Best Musical Composition First Recorded And Released In 1959 - (More Than 5 Minutes Duration) 1959 Best Sound Track Album - Background Score From A Motion Picture Or Television

Songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame \"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)\" \"Cocktails for Two\" \"Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue\" Far East Suite Black, Brown and Beige \"Black and Tan Fantasy\" \"Take the \"A\" Train\" \"Mood Indigo\"

Other Honors and Inductions Commemorative U.S. quarter Gennett Records Walk of Fame Nesuhi Ertegün Jazz Hall of Fame at Jazz at Lincoln Center Pulitzer Prize Special Citation Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame 22¢ commemorative U.S. stamp Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame French Legion of Honor Honorary Degree in Music from Columbia University Honorary Doctorate Degree from Berklee College of Music Honorary Doctor of Music from Howard University Songwriters Hall of Fame Presidential Medal of Freedom Grammy Trustees Award Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Yale University Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Honorary degree, Milton College, Wisconsin NAACP Spingarn Medal Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame inductee

The top ten most requested Songs by Duke Ellington 1. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 2. In a Sentimental Mood 3. Solitude 4. Caravan 5. I Let a Song Go out of My Heart 6. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 7. Don't Get Around Much Anymore 8. Sophisticated Lady 9. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 10. Perdido

-All of the awards he has won -Many many many orchestral accomplishments. -The range of his accomplishments was so great over a 55-year career -His impact on music has yet to be assessed adequately due to the amount and the variety of his difference awards.

Early Work -Smaller gigs -Easier compositions -Shorter compositions -Less people performing -Less people watching -More nervous - Started out playing popular music - Learned to play ragtime and blues - Inspired by ragtime players to play professionally at age 17 - Played blues based melodies with his sextet in Broadway nightclubs - Ellington's early work is somewhat \"jungle style\" - Mixed Latin American music into his pieces

- Mixed famous classical pieces and added Jazz to them - Tried to create pieces that reflected old times and older works - Used jazz as base for many movies

Later Work -Larger gigs -Longer compositions -More complex compositions -More people performing -Larger audience -More relaxed More confident - Created his own work by mixing blues, ragtime, and jazz - Played with moods and instrument moods - Used certain instruments to make the piece sound a certain way - Star of swing era - Composed jazz in classical type forms

-Swedish vocalist Alice Babs -South African musicians Dollar Brand and Sathima Bea Benjamin -Publisher Irving Mills -Lyricist Billy Strayhorn -15 Instrumentalists

-Wrote many pieces about what was really happening during times with racial inequality -Wrote a book about blacks and whites in America -Stood up for what he knew was right -Didn't allow people to push him around -Pivotal figure in the world of jazz -Pivotal figure in the world and the modern events that were going on in his daily lives -Proved once again that blacks were just as good as whites -Didn't just try to make money with his music - He put his heart and soul into all of his pieces and compilations.

-Wrote pieces about equality/inequality -Wrote pieces about blacks -Wrote pieces about whites -Used his lyrics to send messages -Spoke out towards racial inequality -Didn't let hurdles get in his way -Got up when he was knocked down -Stood by his beliefs -Wrote a book about his life and social justice

With complete sincerity and honesty, one can easily recognize Edward Kennedy \"Duke\" Ellington as one of America's greatest composer in any genre. Whether that is jazz, or punk rock, Duke Ellington was one of the best. Leading his orchestra for over fifty years of continual musical excellence, he wrote literally thousands of works, ranging from standard ballads like \"Don't Get Around Much Anymore\", through instrumentals and full scale suites. Ellington always composed with his orchestra members in mind and many of them stayed with him for twenty years or more. In the words of his veteran collaborator and arranger, Billy Strayhorn, \"Ellington plays the piano, but his real instrument is his band\".

With Duke starting from a Washington middle-class background, Ellington took piano lessons, played at dances and parties and wrote his first composition, \"Soda Fountain Rag\" at the age of sixteen. He never let anything stand in his way. After leaving school he worked many different while running his first band, which included Sonny Greer (drums) and Otto Hardwick (tenor sax). In 1922 they decided it was time to move so they did. Right to New York, where they played briefly with Wilbur Sweatman and where Ellington learned Jazz piano from James P. Johnson and Willie \"the Lion\" Smith. The following year Ellington formed his first band for a nightclub engagement and with Jo Trend, he wrote the score for \"Chocolate Kiddies\", a show which starred Josephine Baker and Adelaide Hall. With the arrival of James \"Bubber\" Miley (trumpet) and Joe \"Trickey Sam\" Nanton (trombone), the band soon began to acquire a special sound like no other. Their patented growling and wah-wah sounds are heard in several different songs. One of the most distinguished and individual voices of the orchestra was Johnny Hodges on alto sax. His unique contribution to the sound of the band is herd throughout the music. And soaring above them all in \"Cat\" Anderson, playing high notes like no trumpet player before or since. So, you can clearly see that with all his awards and adventurous life, that Duke Ellington was definitely one of the greats.

-He had an enormous impact on the popular music of the late 20th century -Motivated and inspired people to stand up for what they believed in. -Whether it was have equality -Or just as simple as saying \"no\" to something they knew in their hearts was wrong -He showed people new ways of computing messages through music and the arts. -Encouraged people to do what was right no matter what the consequences might be or how badly they were going to be punished.

-Duke Ellington didn't really have any disappointments -He knew what he was capable of doing and never went beyond the boiling point -He did however get pretty close to it and showed that he was very resilient -But he never went over board or didn't live up to what he promised.

- His friend Edgar McEntree brought him to social gatherings _ McEntree nicknamed him Duke because of his manners - At one party McEntree announced that Duke was going to play - Duke was on the spot and just played a piece he had written - The people called for an encore - First time he had ever had any appreciation for his music by a large audience

1. Jimmy Blanton 2. Ben Webster 3. Barney Bigard 4. Jimmy Hamilton 5. Johnny Hodges 6. Harry Carney 7. Paul Gonsalves 8. Al Sears 9. Otto Hardwick 10. Tricky Sam Nanton 11. Lawrence Brown 12. Juan Tizol 13. Fred Guy 14. Wellman Braud 15. Aaron Bell 16. Sonny Greer 17. Sam Woodyard 18. Lewis Bellson 19. Bubber Miley 20. Cootie Williams 21. Ray Nance 22. Shorty Baker 23. Rex Stewart 24. Cat Anderson 25. Clark Terry 26. Britt Woodman

1. bass 2. tenor saxophone 3. clarinet 4. clarinet 5. alto saxophone 6. baritone saxophone 7. tenor saxophone 8. tenor saxophone 9. saxophone 10. trombone 11. trombone 12. trombone 13. guitar 14. bass 15. drums 16. drums 17. drums 18. trumpet 19. trumpet 20. trumpet 21. trumpet 22. trumpet 23. trumpet 24. trumpet 25. trumpet 26. trombone

-Same age as Duke - After seeing him perform, Duke decided that he wanted to learn to play - He realized that he had to actually sit down to play if he wanted to be good

- He had a couple of more lessons, but essentially taught himself to play - He learned to play popular songs first - Then he began to write his own music - Had a natural talent for music and playing came easily - Most of his lessons were not

- Performed as bandleader in Broadway nightclubs - group that grew to 10 people - Sought out different types of musicians with their own playing styles - Toured Europe twice - Made hundreds of recordings - Was both in films and on the radio - Divorced Edna Thompson

- Became even more famous - \"It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing\" - \"Cotton Tail\" - Some of his hits were sung by Ivie Anderson, one of his lead singers

- Wrote score for Paris Blues (Academy Award) - Went on tour of world as part of Cultural commitee - Lectured on jazz, jazz musicians and race relations in America - Performed in concert on tour - Played in cathedrals with his band

- \" A problem is a chance for you to do our best.\" - \" Gray skies are just clouds passing over.\" - \" The wise musicians are the ones who play what they can master.\" - \" My attitude never to be satisfied, never enough, never.\" - \" I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.\"

- Never really played piano solo - was more of an accompaniment - was silent through some choruses and pieces - was there to mainly keep the band energized - relied on some cliches like downward arpegios - played mostly jazz, ragtime, and blues, mixed together and not - Made many compositions mixing popular types of music - Had a heavy thumping rythmic style of playing piano

- Expanded band to 14 - Selected musicians based on individuality and their particular sounds - Played with the sounds of his musicians and used it to create new sounds as one band - Made hundreds of recordings

- Played Black, Brown, and Beige at first concert - Premiered larger pieces of work - Played about African Americans - New World a- Comin' - Liberian Suite

-More unique than a usual band -Virtuoso musicians (excellent musicians with excellent technique) -Interested in something distinctive about their playing—something that set them apart and made them unusual -Distinctive musical personalities -Presented challenges as a composer—his creativity came out -Would personally write parts, not assign \"1, 2, 3\" etc. -Everyone wanted to play with Duke Ellington -Duke Ellington and Count Basie didn't go after each other's musicians, except for Clark, who Duke met with -Duke paid more; he subsidized payroll with his royalty income -Band payroll: whatever band takes in from gigs/recordings -Ellington was such a very popular, prolific composer and songwriter -Composers and songwriters get royalties/income from performances of their music -Everyone was an improviser in Duke's band

- Ellington came back to New York - Spent money on train comforts, expecting job - Job had fallen through and band was broke - New leader was Elmer Snowden who was a banjo player - He was dismissed because he kept band assets to himself - Ellington took over

- It was important to share religious things with his mom - Religion made him feel special - He felt he was guided to make important decisions - Devoted

- Players tended to stay for decades - unique instrument sounds made certain players stronger - Played in famous New York clubs, and even whites-only clubs like Connie's Inn and Cotton Club

- Helped Ellington become successful - Jazz became instantly popular - No type of music had ever become so popular in such a short amount of time - Everyone was now introduced to Ellington - He and his band became well known nationally

- At first only live performances were broadcasted, but then in the 40's, records begun to play - Records began to become less popular - Radios had performers play popular songs - Radio was free - Record companies started to go out of business especially after Great Depression

1. \"Duke Ellington.\" Britannica School. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. . 2. \"Ellington, Duke.\" World Book Student. World Book, 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. . 3. \"Duke Ellington.\" PBS. PBS Jazz Biographies, 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. . 4. \"Duke Ellington Biography.\" Biography.com Editors. The Biography.com website . 5. http://www.allmusic.com/album/16-most-requested-songs-mw0000114211