Duke Ellington

Summary

Duke Ellington is a human^[1]. Born in Washington, D.C.^[2], he… he was born on April 29, 1899^[3]. He passed away in New York City^[4]. He died on May 24, 1974^[5]. He worked as a pianist^[6], composer^[7], autobiographer^[8], jazz musician^[9], and conductor^[10]. He ranks in the top 0.49% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (5,721 views/month, #4,919 of 1,000,298).^[11]

Key Facts

• Duke Ellington was born in Washington, D.C.^[2].
• Duke Ellington died in New York City^[4].
• Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899^[3].
• Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974^[5].
• Burial took place at Woodlawn Cemetery^[12].
• Among Duke Ellington's spouses was Edna Thompson^[13].
• A child of Duke Ellington was Mercer Ellington^[14].
• Duke Ellington held citizenship in United States^[15].
• Duke Ellington is identified as part of the African Americans ethnic group^[16].
• Duke Ellington worked as a pianist^[6].
• Duke Ellington worked as a composer^[7].
• Duke Ellington's professions included autobiographer^[8].
• Duke Ellington worked as a jazz musician^[9].
• Duke Ellington's professions included conductor^[10].
• Duke Ellington's professions included bandleader^[17].
• Duke Ellington was educated at Armstrong High School^[18].
• A notable work attributed to Duke Ellington is Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)^[19].
• A notable work attributed to Duke Ellington is It Don't Mean a Thing^[20].
• Duke Ellington received the Spingarn Medal^[21].
• Duke Ellington received the Presidential Medal of Freedom^[22].
• Duke Ellington received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award^[23].
• Duke Ellington received the Grammy Trustees Award^[24].
• Duke Ellington received the German Film Award for best original music^[25].
• Duke Ellington received the Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences^[26].
• Duke Ellington was a member of American Academy of Arts and Letters^[27].

Product Details

The following facts are restated verbatim from public-domain and CC0 open-data sources — every line is independently verifiable against the named source's catalog.

MusicBrainz — CC0 open music encyclopedia

• Type: Person^[28]

• Country: US^[29]

• Began / founded: 1899-04-29^[30]

• Ended / dissolved: 1974-05-24^[31]

• Genre(s): big band, jazz, swing^[32]

• Community tags: big band, duke box, jazz, newport, swing^[33]

• MusicBrainz ID: 3af06bc4-68ad-4cae-bb7a-7eeeb45e411f^[34]

Body

Origins and Family

Duke Ellington's place of birth was Washington, D.C.^[2]. He was born on April 29, 1899^[3]. He is identified as part of the African Americans ethnic group^[16].

Education

Duke Ellington was educated at Armstrong High School^[18].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include pianist^[6], composer^[7], autobiographer^[8], jazz musician^[9], conductor^[10], and bandleader^[17].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)^[19], a musical work/composition^[35] and It Don't Mean a Thing^[20], a musical work/composition^[36]. Things named for Duke Ellington include Ellington^[37], a Mercury crater^[38].

Recognition

Awards received include Spingarn Medal^[21], a medallion^[39], in United States^[40], founded in 1914^[41]; Presidential Medal of Freedom^[22], an award^[42], in United States^[43], founded in 1963^[44]; Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award^[23], a lifetime achievement award^[45], in United States^[46], founded in 1962^[47]; Grammy Trustees Award^[24], an award^[48]; German Film Award for best original music^[25], a film award category^[49], in Germany^[50], founded in 1954^[51]; and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences^[26], a fellowship award^[52].

Personal Life

Duke Ellington was married to Edna Thompson^[13]. A child of him was Mercer Ellington^[14].

Death and Burial

Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974^[5]. He died in New York City^[4]. The cause of death was lung cancer^[53]. Burial took place at Woodlawn Cemetery^[12].

Why It Matters

Duke Ellington ranks in the top 0.49% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (5,721 views/month, #4,919 of 1,000,298).^[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.^[54] He is known by 14 alternative names across languages and contexts.^[55]

He has been cited as an influence by Quincy Jones^[56], a conductor^[57], 1933–2024^[58], of United States^[59], awarded the Commander of the Legion of Honour^[60], specialised in music^[61]; Stevie Wonder^[62], a singer-songwriter^[63], b. 1950^[64], of United States^[65], awarded the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎^[66]; Dave Grusin^[67], a composer^[68], b. 1934^[69], of United States^[70], awarded the Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award^[71]; Leigh Harline^[72], a composer^[73], 1907–1969^[74], of United States^[75], awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Song^[76]; Nick Glennie-Smith^[77], a composer^[78], b. 1951^[79], of United Kingdom^[80], specialised in film score^[81]; and Lennie Niehaus^[82], a composer^[83], 1929–2020^[84], of United States^[85], awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special^[86], specialised in music^[87].

Entities named for him include Ellington^[37], a Mercury crater^[38].

FAQs

Where was Duke Ellington born?

Born in Washington, D.C.^[2], Duke Ellington…

Where did Duke Ellington die?

Duke Ellington passed away in New York City^[4].

Who was Duke Ellington married to?

Duke Ellington's spouses include Edna Thompson^[13].

What did Duke Ellington do for work?

Duke Ellington worked as pianist^[6], composer^[7], autobiographer^[8], jazz musician^[9], and conductor^[10].

Where did Duke Ellington go to school?

Duke Ellington was educated at Armstrong High School^[18].

What awards did Duke Ellington receive?

Honors received include Spingarn Medal^[21], Presidential Medal of Freedom^[22], Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award^[23], and Grammy Trustees Award^[24].

Who did Duke Ellington influence?

Duke Ellington has been cited as an influence by Quincy Jones^[56], Stevie Wonder^[62], Dave Grusin^[67], and Leigh Harline^[72].