[29-4-1899 - 24-5-1974]

American pianist, composer and conductor.
Born in Washington, he studies art before dedicating himself to music.
In 1923, he joins the band "The Washingtonians", and in 1924 becomes the leader of the band. They start to perform regularly in New York, and from 1927 to 1931, they animate the Cotton Club in Harlem.
Duke Ellington and his orchestra starts performing in the entire world, in numerous places and festivals.
His music can be organised in four different styles : the "jungle style", the "mood style", the "concerto style" and the "standard style".
His two most famous orchestras are:
In the twenties, his orchestra with the trumpetist Bubber Miley, the trombonist Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton and the saxophonist Harry Carney; in the fourties, his orchestra with the bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster.
Until his death from a pneumonia in 1974, he has been faithfull to the black american musical tradition.
His son, and now his grand son are perpetuating his tradition, conducting the "Duke Ellington Orchestra".

He has taken his music all over the world and has become a worldwide jazz ambassador.

[center][b]...He is Jazz...[/b][/center]

	And His Mother Called Him Bill DUKE ELLINGTON RCA - 1967
	Duke Ellington - John Coltrane DUKE ELLINGTON - JOHN COLTRANE Impulse - 1962
	Money Jungle DUKE ELLINGTON Blue Note - 1962
	Ellington at Newport 1956 DUKE ELLINGTON Columbia - 1956
	Piano reflections DUKE ELLINGTON Blue Note - 1953
	Duke Ellington With Ella Fitzgerald and Joan Miro ELLA FITZGERALD - DUKE ELLINGTON -
	All-Star Swing Festival ELLA FITZGERALD -
	All Star Swing Festival 1972 ELLA FITZGERALD -
	Ella Fitzgerald in Concert ELLA FITZGERALD -
BOOKS
	Duke Ellington, A Spiritual Biography DUKE ELLINGTON -