Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899–1974) was an American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader whose orchestra became one of the most influential ensembles in 20th‑century music. Born in Washington, D.C., he rose to national prominence during the Harlem Renaissance, leading a band that held a long engagement at New York’s Cotton Club. Ellington wrote and arranged extensively for his musicians, shaping a distinctive orchestral jazz sound and collaborating closely with key soloists such as Johnny Hodges and Billy Strayhorn. His works ranged from popular songs to extended suites, and he toured internationally for decades, leaving a vast recorded legacy.