On April 20, 1899, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American music, Ellington was a composer, bandleader, and pianist whose career spanned over 50 years. He helped elevate jazz into a sophisticated art form, blending classical, gospel, blues, and swing into a style that was uniquely his own. With over 1,000 compositions to his name—including “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Mood Indigo,” and “Take the ‘A’ Train”—Duke Ellington transformed the sound of the 20th century and left an indelible mark on global music history.
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