Duke Ellington

See all 44 pictures

Play Radio

Listen to Duke Ellington Radio, featuring artists like Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and more…

• 
  Search on Spotify

  Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more

6,374,528 plays (526,318 listeners)
In your library (0 plays)

Shop now at Amazon | Send Duke Ellington Ringtones to Cell

More options

• Download
• Amazon
• Send Ringtones to Cell
• Tonefuse Search

Add to my Library

Duke Ellington (Edward Kennedy Ellington, Washington, D.C., 29 April, 1899 - New York City, 24 May, 1974), was an American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader.

Through the ranks of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra passed some of the biggest names in jazz, including Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Bubber Miley, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Sonny Greer, Otto Hardwick, Clark Terry, Jimmy Blanton, Ray Nance, Paul Gonsalves, and Wellman Braud. Many musicians stayed with him for decades. And while all of them were remarkable in their own right, and they all would have probably made it into the annals of jazz history no matter who they played for, it was Ellington’s genius as a composer, pianist, bandleader, celebrity personality, and, most importantly, arranger, that made them the most incredible orchestral unit in the history of jazz. His ability to write and arrange for personalities, rather than instruments, made every solo and every section of every arrangement breathe with character. A giant on the 20th century American cultural scene, Duke Ellington was widely regarded as a legend during his own lifetime.

Early life

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. They lived with his maternal grandparents at 2129 Ward Place, NW in Washington, D.C. James Edward Ellington was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina on April 15, 1879 and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1886 with his parents.[4] Daisy Kennedy, was born in Washington, D.

Read more… Edit

Popular tags: jazz, swing, big band, piano, blues  See more

Shouts: 195 shouts

Share this artist:

• Send
• Tweet

Top Albums

• Jazz Inspiration
  Duke Ellington

  Buy

  • Download Album
  • Amazon MP3 Search
  • 7digital Search
  • iTunes Search
  • Buy Album
  • Amazon $10.98
  • eBay Search

  New

• The Harlem Days (Remastered)
  Duke Ellington

  Buy

  • Download Album
  • Amazon MP3 Search
  • 7digital Search
  • iTunes $7.99
  • Buy Album
  • Amazon Search
  • eBay Search

  New

• Duke the Complete Works 1924-1947
  Duke Ellington

  Buy

  • Download Album
  • Amazon MP3 Search
  • 7digital Search
  • iTunes Search
  • Buy Album
  • Amazon Search
  • eBay Search
• The Okeh Ellington
  Duke Ellington

  Buy

  • Download Album
  • Amazon MP3 $16.99
  • 7digital $16.99
  • iTunes $16.99
  • Buy Album
  • Amazon $17.99
  • eBay Search

Top Tracks

• Last Week
• Last 6 months

1		Caravan			767
2		Mood Indigo			549
3		Take The "A" Train			516
4		Solitude			495
5		Black And Tan Fantasy			430
6		The Mooche			416
7		In A Sentimental Mood			407
8		Sophisticated Lady			390
9		Perdido			329
10		Take The A Train			275
11		It Don't Mean A Thing			268
12		Satin Doll			238
13		Take the 'A' Train			233
14		It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)			228
15		Creole Love Call			210

Buy all tracks at Amazon MP3

See more