Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist and bandleader of jazz orchestras. He led his orchestra from 1923 until his death, his career spanning over 50 years.
Born in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based in New York City from the mid-1920s onward, and gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club. In the 1930s, his orchestra toured in Europe. Though widely considered to have been a pivotal figure in the history of jazz, Ellington himself embraced the phrase "beyond category" as a "liberating principle", and referred his music to the more general category of "American Music", rather than to a musical genre such as "jazz".
Some of the musicians who were members of Ellington's orchestra, such as saxophonist Johnny Hodges, are still, in their own right, considered to be among the best players in jazz, but it was Ellington who melded them into the best-known orchestral unit in the history of jazz. Some members of the orchestra remained members for several decades.
Love is supreme and unconditional like is nice but limited. love
A problem is a chance for you to do your best. best
My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never. attitude & leadership
Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young. famous
Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it. art
The wise musicians are those who play what they can master. music