Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Mercer's children continue a connection with their grandfather's work. Born Edward Kennedy Ellington, April 29,1899, in Washington, DC; died of lung cancer, May 24, 1974, in New York City; son of James Edward (a butler, carpenter, and blueprint maker) and Daisy (Kennedy) Ellington; married Edna Thompson, July 2, 1918; children: Mercer. Many saw the Sacred Music suites as an attempt to reinforce commercial support for organized religion, though Ellington simply said it was "the most important thing I've done". Weekly radio broadcasts from the club gave Ellington national exposure, while Ellington also recorded Fields-JMcHugh and Fats WallerAndy Razaf songs. Mercer Kennedy Ellington. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington ( Washington, 29 de Abril de 1899 Nova Iorque, 24 de Maio de 1974) foi um compositor de jazz, pianista e lder de orquestra estadunidense eternizado com a alcunha de "The Duke" e distinguido com a Presidential Medal of Freedom (condecorao americana) em 1969 e com a Legio de Honra (condecorao francesa) em Competition was intensifying, though, as swing bands like Benny Goodman's began to receive popular attention. NEW YORK (UPI) Jazz musician, vote at Jim Continued on Page 9 NEW YORK (UPI) Jazz musician, music .1 mourn his loss both as musician and warm friend." Ellington then made eight records in 1924, receiving composing credit on three including "Choo Choo". Weve updated the security on the site. He was born on April 29, 1899 at Washington, D.C, United States. Duke got buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City. James Edward Ellington was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina on April 15, 1879 and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1886 with his parents. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The group was initially called Elmer Snowden and his Black Sox Orchestra and had seven members, including trumpeter James "Bubber" Miley. The Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival is a nationally renowned annual competition for prestigious high school bands. [76] Ellington is depicted on the quarter seated at a piano, sheet music in hand, along with the inscription "Justice for All", which is the District's motto. His hope that television would provide a significant new outlet for his type of jazz was not fulfilled. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. When his drummer Sonny Greer was invited to join the Wilber Sweatman Orchestra in New York City, Ellington left his successful career in D.C. and moved to Harlem, ultimately becoming part of the Harlem Renaissance. Daisy Kennedy was born in Washington, D.C. on January 4, 1879, and was the daughter of a former American slave. Ellington's sister Ruth (19152004) later ran Tempo Music, his music publishing company. Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington (Washington D. C., 29 de abril de 1899-Nueva York, 24 de mayo de 1974) fue un compositor, pianista y lder de una big band, lo que lo llev a una carrera que abarc ms de cincuenta aos, desde 1923 hasta su muerte. Here are nine facts you might not have known about the legendary musician. His mother, Daisy (Kennedy) Ellington was the daughter of a former slave. He wrote "The three greatest composers who ever lived are Bach, Delius and Duke Ellington. Try again later. At first, he played in other ensembles, and in late 1917 formed his first group, "The Duke's Serenaders" ("Colored Syncopators", his telephone directory advertising proclaimed). [42] While he had composed and recorded some extended pieces before, such works now became a regular feature of Ellington's output. [76] Ellington appears on the reverse (tails) side of the District of Columbia quarter. She was a woman of great beauty and intelligence and had completed high school, rare for a black woman at the time. She also wanted her son to learn manners and proper . Strayhorn composed Take the A Train to impress Ellington, which it did, and Strayhorn relocated from Pittsburgh to New York to join Ellingtons orchestra soon afterwards. In the early 1940s, Ellington began a nearly thirty-year collaboration with composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, whom he called his writing and arranging companion. Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. in 1899, to. But Ellington did articulate that his stint at the Cotton Club was of the utmost significance because the shows were broadcast over the radio, which helped his orchestra attract a much broaderinternational, evenaudience. Mercer Ellington had been handling all administrative aspects of his father's business for several decades. [21] Mills had an eye for new talent and published compositions by Hoagy Carmichael, Dorothy Fields, and Harold Arlen early in their careers. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Ellington's parents were talented musical people. Early years Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 1899, to James Edward and Daisy . Ellington later presented its score to music-loving President Harry Truman. Daisy Kennedy Ellington, born on January 4, 1879, was the mother of pianist Duke Ellington. In 1919 he met drummer Sonny Greer from New Jersey, who encouraged Ellington's ambition to become a professional musician. According to Avakian, Ellington was dissatisfied with aspects of the performance and felt the musicians had been under rehearsed. Duke, even as a teenager, had a great talent for music. Like Haydn and Mozart, Ellington conducted his orchestra from the piano he always played the keyboard parts when the Sacred Concerts were performed.[63]. At one point [Strayhorn] was having some sort of trouble and I pulled a piece out of the garbage. 371 Words; 2 Pages; Biography: Duke Ellington. Failed to delete memorial. The next spring, on March 11, 1919, Edna gave birth to their only son, Mercer Kennedy Ellington. Black, Brown and Beige debuted at Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1943, beginning an annual series of Ellington concerts at the venue over the next four years. were both pianists. based on information from your browser. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Those longer pieces had already begun to appear. Drag images here or select from your computer for Daisy Kennedy Ellington memorial. He was commemorated by Stevie Wonder with "Sir Duke," a song Wonder wrote in 1976. Please reset your password. They were a musically gifted family! Duke Ellington - Biography. Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899. Miles Davis created his half-hour dirge "He Loved Him Madly" (on Get Up with It) as a tribute to Ellington one month after his death. He also ran his own catering business. They were hired, and for the next few years Ellington and his now-expanded orchestra wowed the establishments all-white crowd. 2010-10-08 09:35:00. Daisy primarily played parlor songs and J.E. Duke was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899, to Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington in Washington, DC-the capital of the United States of America. preferred operatic arias. In the summer of that year, his father died, and due to many expenses, Ellington's finances were tight, although his situation improved the following year. Some regard Duke Ellington as the most important figure to emerge from the U.S. jazz scene in the twentieth century. Connect to 5,000+ Kennedy profiles on Geni, counters or may be carried out. History tells us that she was a beautiful, intelligent, educated woman who doted on her son, Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899-1974). Daisy also surrounded her son with great women to reinforce manners and teach him elegance. Mother of orchestra leader Duke Ellington, Daisy and her husband were both pianists. Ellington was joined in New York City by his wife and son in the late twenties, but the couple soon permanently separated. Ellington began playing piano at the age of seven. 20, Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery Relatives and friends invited. Over twelve thousand people attended his funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and one of the mourners said in her statement that a genius had passed. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington is one of the greatest jazz composers, performers, and bandleaders in American history. After Duke died, his son Mercer took over leadership of the orchestra, continuing until his own death in 1996. [69] As an adult, son Mercer Ellington (d. 1996) played trumpet and piano, led his own band, and worked as his father's business manager. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. But Ellingtons childhood passion wasnt piano: It was baseball. In the summer of 1914, while working as a soda jerk at the Poodle Dog Caf, Ellington wrote his first composition, "Soda Fountain Rag" (also known as the "Poodle Dog Rag"). Because of the fact that no one else but my sister Ruth had a mother as great and as beautiful as mine, it is difficult to put into understandable words an accurate description of my mother, Ellington wrote in his autobiography, Music Is My Mistress. They both believe Duke was meant for great things. His father's day job then was as a butler, [3] but he also made . Birth Date: 1879 Ellington was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1965 but no prize was ultimately awarded that year. 2H, Circa 1880 - District of Columbia, United States, 1930 - Manhattan (Districts 1001-1249), New York, New York, USA, Ella Kennedy, Jacob Kennedy, James Kennedy, John Kennedy, Gertrude Kennedy, This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties. Year should not be greater than current year. And there it stayed until January 1941, when a battle between two music rights organizations prevented broadcasters from airing songs composed by Ellington. She married James Edward Ellington and had two children; Duke and Ruth Ellington. For agent Mills the attention was a publicity triumph, as Ellington was now internationally known. Edward Kennedy " Duke " Ellington (April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Mills often took a co-composer credit. Although it had sold-out performances, and received positive reviews,[45] it ran for only 122 performances until September 29, 1941, with a brief revival in November of that year. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Daisy Kennedy Ellington, born on January 4, 1879, was the mother of pianist Duke Ellington. Drummer Louie Bellson replaced Greer, and his "Skin Deep" was a hit for Ellington. Its subject matter did not make it appealing to Broadway; Ellington had unfulfilled plans to take it there. The late 1950s also saw Ella Fitzgerald record her Duke Ellington Songbook (Verve) with Ellington and his orchestraa recognition that Ellington's songs had now become part of the cultural canon known as the 'Great American Songbook'. Age: 19 Ellington supported both women for the rest of his life.[68]. Try again later. His compositions have been revisited by artists and musicians around the world both as a source of inspiration and a bedrock of their own performing careers. Duke Ellington's parents were Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington. [85], Freemason, i. She was a family person as she liked spending time with her grandkids, and also her siblings enjoyed spending time at her place since she was the oldest and welcoming. It could have taken us twenty years to get the old man to make room for that much of our music, but all of a sudden we had this freak opportunity, Mercer is quoted as saying in Stuart Nicholsons Reminiscing in Tempo: A Portrait of Duke Ellington. "I would play the 'Soda Fountain Rag' as a one-step, two-step, waltz, tango, and fox trot", Ellington recalled. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107956166/daisy-ellington. Verify and try again. She is the vocalist on "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (1932) among other recordings. [34] Ellington and his Orchestra also appeared in the features Murder at the Vanities and Belle of the Nineties (both 1934). Titled Time Runs in Paris[50] and An Evening With Orson Welles in Frankfurt, the variety show also featured a newly discovered Eartha Kitt, who performed Ellington's original song "Hungry Little Trouble" as Helen of Troy. Ideal YouTube Profile Picture: Size, Dimensions, Tricks, and More, Reasons To Invest In A Good Gaming Laptop, Microphone Sound Recording for Live Streaming, Delores Miller Clark: Learn More about John Lists Ex-Wife, Johanna Thiebaud- All about Shania Twains Stepdaughter, What You May Not Know About Gweneth Gonzales Thomas, Richard Thomas Daughter, Linnell S. Nobori: All there is to Know about Ted Bessells Wife, Personal Information of Shane Haaken Sorbo, Marit McCaffery, Daughter of Basketball Coach, Fran McCaffery, Ariel Swanepoel Nicolai: A Few Facts To Know, Emma Justine McBride: Age, Career, Siblings, and Parents, Caitlin Nell Dryer, Personal Life and Net Worth. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Geni requires JavaScript! You have chosen this person to be their own family member. It's easy to say that Duke drew his inspirations from both his mom and dad, who were pianists at the time. The settlement of the first recording ban of 194243, leading to an increase in royalties paid to musicians, had a serious effect on the financial viability of the big bands, including Ellington's Orchestra. He was the Duke, Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy Ellington was born into the world on April 28, 1899 in Washington, D. C. Duke"s parents Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington served as ideal role models for young Duke and taught him everything from proper table manners to an understanding of the emotional power of music. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. After Duke's death Mercer took over Duke's band and became leader. Duke turned 65 in the spring of 1964 but showed no signs of slowing down as he continued to make vital and innovative recordings, including The Far East Suite (1966), New Orleans Suite (1970), Latin American Suite (1972) and The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse (1971), much of it inspired by his world tours. Learn more about merges . Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties. James Edward (or "J. E.," as his family and friends called him) was a butler for a famous Washington doctor, and he occasionally catered parties at the White House. Has one sister: Ruth. To say that Duke Ellington (April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974) had a productive and illustrious career would be a major understatement. African Americans in D.C. worked to protect their children from the era's Jim Crow laws. Mercedes Ellington is Duke Ellingtons grand daughter ! I cannot tell you what that music did to me, Ellington later said. We have set your language to GREAT NEWS! Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images. 004 Duke Ellington in New York. The band included childhood friend Otto Hardwick, who began playing the string bass, then moved to C-melody sax and finally settled on alto saxophone; Arthur Whetsol on trumpet; Elmer Snowden on banjo; and Sonny Greer on drums. [66] According to her obituary in Jet magazine, she was "homesick for Washington" and returned. The musical numbers were composed by Jimmy McHugh and the lyrics by Dorothy Fields (later Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler), with some Ellington originals mixed in. Daisy Ellington (born Brough)was born on month day1877, at birth place, Mississippi. "[72], He was interred in the Woodlawn Cemetery, the Bronx, New York City.[73]. In 2010 the triangular park, across the street from Duke Ellington's birth site, at the intersection of New Hampshire and M Streets, NW was named the Duke Ellington Park. After a few months, the young musicians returned to Washington, D.C., feeling discouraged. Father of Mercer Kennedy Ellington And since his death in 1974, it has become not at all uncommon to see him named, along with Charles Ives, as the greatest composer we have produced, regardless of category. A complex, private person, he revealed his feelings to only his closest intimates and effectively used his public persona to deflect attention away from himself. His sister's name is Ruth. When he got ready to go, he would wave and we would wave at him, Ellington recalled. He was American by nationality. [38] The 1930s ended with a very successful European tour just as World War II loomed in Europe. Daisy Kennedy Ellington. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. While its possible that those qualities helped the name stick, Ellington didnt actually credit them as the inspiration behind it. Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA. He studied music at the Armstrong Manual Training School and the Duke Ellington School of Music. Though Ellington took piano lessons, he was more interested in baseball. Just one grandparent can lead you to many Musicians enlisting in the military and travel restrictions made touring difficult for the big bands and dancing became subject to a new tax, which continued for many years, affecting the choices of club owners. Search above to list available cemeteries. Charles Mingus, who had been fired by Ellington decades earlier, wrote the elegy "Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love" in 1974, a few months after Ellington's death. What kind of music did Duke Ellington play? [26] As an early exponent of growl trumpet, Miley changed the sweet dance band sound of the group to one that was hotter, which contemporaries termed Jungle Style. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Education: Left high school in his senior year; later received honorary diploma. From the beginning of their relationship, Mills arranged recording sessions on nearly every label including Brunswick, Victor, Columbia, OKeh, Path (and its Perfect label), the ARC/Plaza group of labels (Oriole, Domino, Jewel, Banner) and their dime-store labels (Cameo, Lincoln, Romeo), Hit of the Week, and Columbia's cheaper labels (Harmony, Diva, Velvet Tone, Clarion) labels which gave Ellington popular recognition. Husband of Private Ellington built his music business through his day job: when a customer asked him to make a sign for a dance or party, he would ask if they had musical entertainment; if not, Ellington would offer to play for the occasion. Via Wikimedia Commons at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jazz_musician_Duke_Ellington.JPEG, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, The Tribune Independent of Michigan - June 1 1935, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, 1791-1963. His income as a songwriter ultimately subsidized it. Learn more about merges. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Ellington started to play gigs in cafs and clubs in and around Washington, D.C. His attachment to music was so strong that in 1916 he turned down an art scholarship to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. One peak period for the band was from 1939 to 1942, when many critics considered its performances unrivaled by any other jazz ensemble. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. Actually his serious appreciation of those and other modern composers, came after his meeting with Vodery.[29]. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. [25] With a weekly radio broadcast, the Cotton Club's exclusively white and wealthy clientele poured in nightly to see them. Daisy married James Ellington on January 3, 1898. By 1932 his orchestra consisted of six brass instruments, four reeds, and a four-man rhythm section. You can always change this later in your Account settings. After World War II it toured Europe regularly, with excursions to South America, the Far East, and Australia. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1899. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), In a Sentimental Mood, Satin Doll, Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. in 1899, to James Edward (J.E.) and Daisy Ellington. He led his orchestra from 1923 until his death, his career spanning over 50 years. Daisy Kennedy Ellington. Washington, District of Columbia, United States, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, http://www.pbs.org/ellingtonsdc/interviewHasse.htm, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWM9-R5V, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6CW-1H7, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMFM-ZQK, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKLJ-R66, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNLV-6Z9, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4GY-H9R, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFWM-WM8, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL4H-T4X, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2KW-5L9, United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (, United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (, Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (. In 1937, Ellington returned to the Cotton Club, which had relocated to the mid-town Theater District. In September 1927, King Oliver turned down a regular booking for his group as the house band at Harlem's Cotton Club;[22] the offer passed to Ellington after Jimmy McHugh suggested him and Mills arranged an audition. So Strayhorn and Ellingtons son, Mercer, holed up in a room and came up with all new material for the orchestra. Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, to James Edward Ellington and Daisy (Kennedy) Ellington in Washington, D.C. Make sure that the file is a photo. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. "[53] However, by 1955, after three years of recording for Capitol, Ellington lacked a regular recording affiliation. During Duke's long career, the new music slowly spread out of bars and saloons, to dance and night clubs and then eventually onto the concert stage. He also used his platform to help organize benefit concerts for the NAACP and other civil rights initiatives; and by the 1950s, hed begun pushing for integration at concerts, occasionally even refusing to perform at a segregated venue. Try again later. In Music Is My Mistress, Ellington neatly summarized his relationship with frequent collaborator Billy Strayhorn as such: Billy Strayhorn was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brainwaves in his head, and his in mine.. Digital Duke, credited to The Duke Ellington Orchestra, won the 1988 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.
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