Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist and jazz orchestra leader born in Washington, D.C. in 1899. He led one of the most influential big bands of the swing era, creating extended works that elevated jazz to concert-hall status. Ellington composed over a thousand pieces, including standards such as "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and suites like "Black, Brown and Beige." His orchestra remained active for five decades, featuring longtime collaborators Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney and Billy Strayhorn. Ellington received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a posthumous Pulitzer Prize citation.