Contents
Duke Ellington
Composing for a jazz orchestra as a palette of individual voices.
Mood Indigo · Black, Brown and Beige
- Born
- 29 April 1899
- Birthplace
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Died
- 24 May 1974
More people
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington was an American pianist, composer and bandleader. Across decades of touring and recording, he wrote music tailored to the distinctive sounds of the players in his orchestra.
Early life
Washington childhood
Grew up in a household where both parents played piano.
Early jobs
Worked as a sign painter while developing his musical career.
Career
- 1923
New York move
Took his band to Harlem.
- 1927
Cotton Club residency
Radio broadcasts helped establish a national audience.
- 1930s–1970s
Touring orchestra
Sustained a working big band and expanded into suites, film scores and sacred concerts.
Selected work
Mood Indigo
A distinctive blend of instrumental colours in a short piece.
Black, Brown and Beige
An extended work reflecting on African-American history.
The Far East Suite
Collaborated with Billy Strayhorn on music inspired by travel.
Beyond work
Creative partnership
Worked closely with composer and arranger Billy Strayhorn.
Family succession
His son Mercer continued leading the orchestra after his death.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
