Duke Ellington: An American Legacy
...him.
The Motzarts and Beethovens, who wrote the music that today is known as the
classics. These men were naturals in their own right, but these people wrote
their music in the 17th and 18th century. Many people don't realize all of the
changes that music had to go through between that period of music and the
present day. One such musician stands alone at the top as one of the movers and
innovators of the 20th century. He is Duke Ellington. Along with his band, he
alone influenced millions of people both around the world and at home. He gave
American music its own sound for the first time. Winton Marsalis said it best
when he said "His music sounds like America." (Hajdu,72). These days you can
find his name on over 1500 CS's(Illistated Encyclopedia of Jazz,254). Duke's
legacy will live on for generations to come.
Duke Ellington was born Edward Kennedy Ellington, April 29, 1899 in
Washington D.C(The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz,330). His father at the time
was employed as a butler yet always wanted the best for Duke. At the young age
of seven Ellington took up the piano, because his father had always wanted him
to become an artist(330). But how was Duke to become an artist in a time when
blacks weren't given the same rights as everyone else. They went to separate
schools. They were forced to the back of the bus and to use separate bathrooms.
If Duke were to become some one he had much to come over.
One thing that we do know is that Duke was always looking for attention
and dignity. There are even stories of how he would announce from the top of
the stairs in the morning that he was coming down and demand that his parents
applaud(Collier,9). Also when his cousins would come over he would stand on the
front porch as they arrived and make them curtsy in front of him(9). Of course
they didn't like that but they played along(10). From the...
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