Duke Ellington
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Summary
Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899[1], in Washington, D.C.[2]. He died on May 24, 1974[3], in New York City[4]. He worked as a pianist[5], composer[6], autobiographer[7], jazz musician[8], and conductor[9]. He ranks in the top 0.49% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (14,463 views/month, #4,919 of 1,000,298).[10]
Key Facts
- Place of burial: Woodlawn Cemetery[11]
- Spouse: Edna Thompson[12]
- Child: Mercer Ellington[13]
- Country of citizenship: United States[14]
- Ethnic group: African Americans[15]
- Occupation: bandleader[16], record producer[17], film score composer[18], music arranger[19], lyricist[20], jazz arranger[21], musician[22], orchestra leader[23]
- Educated at: Armstrong High School[24]
- Award received: Spingarn Medal[25], Presidential Medal of Freedom[26], Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award[27], Grammy Trustees Award[28], German Film Award for best original music[29], Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[30], star on Hollywood Walk of Fame[31], Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards[32], Songwriters Hall of Fame[33], honorary doctor of the Berklee College of Music[34], Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album[35]
- Member of: American Academy of Arts and Letters[36], American Academy of Arts and Sciences[37], Royal Swedish Academy of Music[38], Alpha Phi Alpha[39], Duke Ellington Orchestra[40], Duke Ellington and his Washingtonians[41], The Oscar Pettiford Quartet[42]
- Sex or gender: male[43]
- Movement: Harlem Renaissance[44]
- Genre: jazz[45], swing[46], gospel music[47], vocal music[48]
- Record label: Columbia Records[49], Decca[50], Philips Records[51]
- Discography: Duke Ellington discography[52]
- Commons category: Duke Ellington[53]
- Archives at: Library of Congress Music Division[54]
- Cause of death: lung cancer[55]
- Residence: Duke Ellington House[56]
- Family name: Kennedy[57], Ellington[58]
- Given name: Edward[59]
- Pseudonym: Duke Ellington[60]
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
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Type: Person[61]
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Country: US[62]
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Began / founded: 1899-04-29[63]
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Ended / dissolved: 1974-05-24[64]
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Genre(s): big band, jazz, swing[65]
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Community tags: big band, duke box, jazz, newport, swing[66]
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MusicBrainz ID: 3af06bc4-68ad-4cae-bb7a-7eeeb45e411f[67]
Body
Works and Contributions
Things named for Duke Ellington include Ellington[68], a Mercury crater[69].
Why It Matters
Duke Ellington has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[70] He is known by 26 alternative names across languages and contexts.[71]
He has been cited as an influence by Stevie Wonder[72], a singer-songwriter[73], b. 1950[74], of United States[75], awarded the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres[76]; Quincy Jones[77], a conductor[78], 1933–2024[79], of United States[80], awarded the Commander of the Legion of Honour[81], specialised in music[82]; Dave Grusin[83], a composer[84], b. 1934[85], of United States[86], awarded the Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award[87]; Nick Glennie-Smith[88], a composer[89], 1951–2026[90], of United Kingdom[91], specialised in film score[92]; Leigh Harline[93], a composer[94], 1907–1969[95], of United States[96], awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Song[97]; and Lennie Niehaus[98], a composer[99], 1929–2020[100], of United States[101], awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special[102], specialised in music[103].
Entities named for him include Ellington[68], a Mercury crater[69].
FAQs
Where was Duke Ellington born?
Duke Ellington's place of birth was Washington, D.C.[2].
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[12].
What did Duke Ellington do for work?
Duke Ellington worked as a pianist[5], composer[6], autobiographer[7], jazz musician[8], and conductor[9].
Where did Duke Ellington go to school?
Duke Ellington was educated at Armstrong High School[24].
What awards did Duke Ellington receive?
Honors received include Spingarn Medal[25], Presidential Medal of Freedom[26], Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award[27], and Grammy Trustees Award[28].
Who did Duke Ellington influence?
Duke Ellington has been cited as an influence by Stevie Wonder[72], Quincy Jones[77], Dave Grusin[83], and Nick Glennie-Smith[88].