I like Duke Ellington because he is a composer and I play an instrument. Ellington first played in New York City. His band also played in Asia. He was born April 29,1899 and was the greatest Jazz composer. I want to hear his music and be able to play it. If you would like more information click here.                                                      http://www.dukeellington.com/ellingtonbio.html

Listen to AN INTERVIEW WITH DUKE ELLINGTON 

Bio Feature

       How would you feel if you wanted to become an artist but became a musician? I wouldn’t be very happy. Well, Duke Ellington wanted to become an artist, got a scholarship, and gave it away for music but was still happy with his choice. Because of this choice, he became composer, and pianist of a famous band.

Ellington was born in 1899, in Washington D.C. He played baseball with many friends but accidentally got hit in the head with a baseball bat. His parents wanted him to play with something safer. They made him play piano until they just gave up on him. Then he played baseball again.

          As Ellington was a teenager he realized the rhythm of the music. He got back into music and started a career in 1916, when he was 16 or 17.

          As Duke got older he joined a band group and formed the Washingtonians. The Washingtonians played at the Hollywood Club and accepted many new members to make a new sound. Because of this new sound they changed the name to The Kentucky Club. Later on they started playing for the Cotton Club and changed their name again to The Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Bibliography

Duke Ellington

http://www.8notes.com/pictures/ellington/.    

  Venezia, Mike. Duke Ellington. Chicago: Children’s Press, 1995.

“Duke Ellington Biography.” 5/6/10. http://www.dukeellington.com/elligtonbio.html.

“Ellington, Duke.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, primary search. 5/6/10. http://web.ebscohost.com