Black History Month Music: Duke Ellington

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Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks! And, congratulations to Seattle in general! They’ve had a pretty amazing sports run the last year (the Mariners had an exciting playoff run in baseball). And congratulations to YOU, you’ve found another music legend with which to celebrate Black History Month. Here’s today’s great. Duke Ellington When I walked into the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa (site of the last concert Buddy Holly performed) the first thing I saw was a grand piano. The underside of the lid had been autographed by Duke Ellington. Instant museum piece! Ellington was born into a musical family and had the talent from an early age, although he preferred baseball. Thankfully, music won out. Ellington was one of the most popular composers and bandleaders of the 30s and 40s. It’s said that he wrote over a thousand songs in his life, and his recorded repertoire is the most expansive big band/jazz era discography in existence. In addition to the recordings, he was in a number of movies, both “race” shorts (made by and for black audiences) and major films (such as Anatomy of a Murder, with Jimmy Stewart). His music has garnered 13 Grammys, and Ellington was given the Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy in 1966. President Nixon awarded Ellington the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. When Ellington died in 1974, the front-page headlines said, “A Song Goes Out, and the World Mourns.” The greatness of “Sir Duke” and his music will last forever. Duke Ellington Born Edward Kennedy Ellington, April 29, 1899, Washington, DC Died May 24, 1974, New York City (lung cancer/pneumonia) (age 75) HALLS OF FAME: Songwriters (1971); Down Beat Jazz (1956); Big Band and Jazz, 1978; Oklahoma Jazz, 1992 One of Ellington’s most famous compositions, and one of the most-quoted song titles, “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”: