FratFiles

• Save Paper

Duke Ellington was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 28, 1899 in Washington, D.C. to Daisy and James Ellington. They served as the ideal role models for young Duke and taught him everything from table manners to the power of music. He was eight when he got his first piano lessons. By the age of fourteen, he was sneaking into Frank Holliday's poolroom. He learned from his experiences in the poolroom how to appreciate the value of mixing with a wide rage of people. He attended the Armstrong Manual Training School to study commercial art instead of an academically-oriented school. During the summer months, he would seek out and listen to ragtime pianists in Washington. He said he decided to become a musician when he realized that when playing the piano, there was always a pretty girl standing down at the bass clef end of the piano, thus the music career of Duke Ellington was born.

He was called "Duke" because he was something of a dandy, with a love of fancy clothes and......

View the rest of this paper...

Approximate Word Count: 884
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

Similar Essays

1. Duke Ellington
   

   duke ellington. By the time of his passing, he was considered amongst the world's
   greatest composers and musicians. ... He was The Duke, Duke Ellington. ...

2. The Famous Duke Ellington
   

   The Famous Duke Ellington. The ... Ellington. Duke Ellington was born into a middle
   class family. Duke's mother's name was Daisy Kennedy. ...

3. Duke Ellington Biography
   

   Duke ellington biography. Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy ... "The Jazz Biography"
   by Duke Ellington is my chosen CD. Song number one is ...

4. Duke Ellington
   

   Duke Ellington. President Nixon stated, "In ... professional debut. Thus the
   music phenomenon of Duke Ellington was born. Between 1918 ...

5. Duke Ellington
   

   Duke Ellington. Duke Ellington was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April
   28, 1899 in Washington, DC to Daisy and James Ellington. ...