ELLINGTON, DUKE

Duke Ellington was born in Washington, DC. He was educated at the Wilberforce University, where he obtained an honorary doctorate in music, and Milton College. He gave up a career in art to play the piano with various groups. He joined Elmer Snowden and formed his first band, the Washingtonians, in 1923. Ellington was able to create a distinctive style and sound, which became well known after the band was engaged to play at the Cotton Club in Harlem in 1927...