The Master – Duke Ellington. The most significant and prolific composer in jazz history and one of the most famous American composers in any genre. Ellington’s music helped define what jazz is and what it could be. His longer compositions are now sometimes performed by classical orchestras.

Edward “Duke” Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D. C. and died on May 24, 1974. He was born into a family of music where both his parents were amateur pianists and Duke makes his professional debut at 17. Because of his elegant manners and sharp appearance his friends dubbed him the “Duke.” After initial disappointments, Duke forms the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1927 sharing the billing with the likes of Louis Armstrong at Harlem’s exclusive Cotton Club cabaret. The band goes on to make 200 recordings and Duke expands his band and his playing to include International tours. Duke receives many honors for his music and a documentary film about him and his orchestra’s life on tour was completed in the final year of his life.

Duke was known as having a sweet tooth and friends and family sent him sweets from around the world. Duke never publicly revealed his age and often provided subtle hints of his own vanity. Duke’s son, Mercer, played trumpet in his father’s band in 1940-41, contributing the standard Moon Mist to its repertory. He took over leadership of the band on his father’s death, and also arranged and conducted the music for Sophisticated Ladies (1983), the successful Broadway musical based on the Duke’s music. Mercer’s son, Paul, the composer’s grandson, took over after Mercer’s death, in 1996, and still runs the orchestra and Ellington’s publishing company, Tempo Music. Duke and his family’s music has been cherished by all types of music lovers to this day.