DUKE ELLINGTON

EARLY LIFE

• Grew up in Washington D.C.
• Began playing piano at 7 years old
• He was interested in baseball as a kid

SCHOOL

• He went to Garnet Elementary School
• He went to Armstrong Manual Training School
• He got a scholarship to Pratte Institute but did not accept
• He was interested in a art school that he left 3 months later

FAMILY

• Mom: Daisy Ellington (Pianist)
• Dad: James Ellington (Pianist)
• Wife: Edna Thompson
• Sister: Ruth Ellington
• Son: Mercer Ellington

QUOTES

• “ You’ve got to find someway of saying it without saying it.”
• “ A problem is a chance for you to do the best.”

FUN FACTS

• He was one of the greatest jazz artists ever
• He wrote and played jazz for 50 years
• His real first name was Edward
• Duke is a nickname that his friend Edgar gave him

MUSIC

• Genres: Jazz and Swing
• Instruments: Piano

HIS BAND

• In 1931 he left the cotton club and made his band
• It was made up of 5 reeds, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, drums, a bass, and a piano
• His band name was The Washingtonians
• The often toured Europe during World War II

IT DON’T MEAN A THING

• https://youtu.be/qDQpZT3GhDg
• It was a 1932 composition
• He wrote It Don’t Mean A Thing because that was his trumpet players catch Phrase
• The lyricist was Irving Mills

SATIN DOLL

• https://youtu.be/wTFPV1pk654

TAKE THE A TRAIN

• https://youtu.be/cb2w2m1JmCY

WEBSITES

• Wikipedia
• YouTube
• Kuvo
• Britannica
• Kids music corner