Duke Ellington was an American jazz bandleader, composer, and pianist. He is thought of as one the greatest figures in jazz. The French government honored him with their highest award, the Legion of Honor, while the government of the United States awarded him with the highest civil honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He played for the royalty and for the common people and by the end of his fifty-year career, he had played over 20,000 performances worldwide. He was the Duke, Duke Ellington.Edward Kennedy was his real name; he was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Duke’s parents Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington served as ideal role models for Duke and taught him everything from table manners to an understanding of the emotional power of music. Duke’s first piano lessons were when he was around seven or eight and they didn’t have much of an effect upon him. Duke was more into baseball when he was younger. Duke got his first job selling peanuts at Washington Senator’s baseball games. This was the first time Duke was placed as a performer for a crowd and had to get over his stage fright. When Duke was fourteen he began sneaking to Frank Holliday’s poolroom. His experiences from the poolroom taught him to appreciate the value in mixing with a lot of people. As duke’s piano lessons faded into the past, Duke began to show an interest for the artistic. Duke went to Armstrong Manual Training School to study commercial art instead of an academically oriented school. Duke began to seek out and listen to ragtime pianists in Washington and during the summers, where he and his mother vacationed in Philadelphia or Atlantic City. While vacationing in Asbury Park, Duke heard of a good pianist named Harvey Brooks. At the end of his vacation Duke sought Harvey out in Philadelphia where Harvey showed Duke some pianist tricks and shortcuts. Duke now had a real yearning ...
