Duke Ellington's Accomplishments

I agree with this quote from Duke Ellington because if your team is losing, they have a chance to do their best, when they get hurt and have to come out of the game. When their grades are low and need to raise them, these are all chances to do their best at those moments. Try out for the team, overcome the expectations that people set for them and say they are not going to make it. Impress the people that doubted them, make sure they are not talked about. Prove that they could do it all along, and they have that “I can do it” look on their face.

Jazz to me is one of the inherent expressions of Negro Life in America: the eternal tom-tom beating in the Negro soul—the tom-tom of revolt against weariness in a white world, a world of subway trains, and work, work, work; the tom-tom of joy and laughter, and pain swallowed in a smile. Yet the Philadelphia clubwoman… turns up her nose at jazz and all its manifestations—likewise almost anything else distinctly racial…She wants the artist to flatter her, to make the white world believe that all Negroes are as smug as near white in smug as she wants to be. But, to my mind, it is the duty of the younger Negro artist …to change through the hidden force of his art that old whispering “I want to be white,” hidden in the aspirations of his people, to “Why should I want to be white? I am Negro—and beautiful.”

Jazz to me is one of the inherent expressions of Negro life in America: the eternal tom-tom beating in the Negro soul-the tom-tom of revolt against weariness in a white world, a world of subway trains, and work, work; the tom-tom of joy and laughter, and pain swallowed in a smile. Yet the Philadelphia club woman , turns up her nose at jazz and all its manifetations-likewise almost anything else distinctly racial... She wants the artist to flatter her, to make the white world believe that all Negroes are as smug and as near white in soul as she wants to be. But, to my mind, it is the duty of the younger Negro artist, to change through the force of his art that old whispering "I want to be white, hidden in the aspirations of his people, to "Why should I want to he white? I am Negro-and beautiful"

to the utmost of his dreams. At such a crucial time in the history of

Though music has been around for generations, during the 1900’s, Duke Ellington was a famous composer in the Americas. Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C. to a religious family; his mother was a Baptist and his father was a Methodist (“Duke,” n.d.). Ellington had a passion for piano during his childhood; he had started taking piano at the age of seven

Duke Ellington was a famous African American musician. He was a very important figure in African American history. In the following we will be talking about his life. Talking about what Duke Ellington accomplished. Finally will be his legacy. I hope by the end of this you will see Duke Ellington like how I see him a legend in African American history. Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 to James and Daisy Ellington in Washington D.C. When he was seven is when he began to study how to play the piano. He worked at Soda Jerk at a young age that inspired him to write his first song "Soda Fountain Rag'' when he was 15. He went to Strongman High School but when he graduated, he declined a scholarship to Pratt Institute so he could focus on

At a time when jazz was sometimes dismissed as simply entertainment, Ellington took the genre to new creative heights. His compositions, which were frequently influenced by literature, visual arts, and personal experiences, had a depth and sophistication previously unattainable in jazz music. Ellington's contribution to popular culture cannot be emphasized. Throughout his career, he wrote several successful songs that became jazz standards, including "Take the A Train," "Mood Indigo," and "Sophisticated Lady. " Listening to his classic work "Conga Brava," I was intrigued by the synthesis of Latin and swing movements, as well as the superb solos delivered by the orchestra.

Our music industry would not be what it is today without one of America’s greatest music legends, Duke Ellington. He made major breakthroughs at a time when the odds were against him. He was born Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974) (Tirro 1993). He was a natural and has many life achievements that have contributed to the genre of jazz. He was a catalyst in his era. His music spoke to the soul. He defied the odds with his musical accomplishments. It was not everyday blacks were awarded the opportunity to shine in America’s spot light.

Our music industry would not be what it is today without one of America’s greatest music legends, Duke Ellington. He made major breakthroughs at a time when the odds were against him. The pioneer who scouted these new regions of musical space more than any other jazz musician of the time was Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974). (Tirro 1993)

Duke Ellington was one of many famous harlem renaissance celebrities. He was a very famous African american songwriter and musician. Born in washington dc in 1899, he was a very famous songwriter and musician for his time. Duke performed in his Jazz band called The washingtonians that primarily in the cotton club and located in new york. Dukes music was not just liked from the black community but also the white, causing a growing in popularity. Duke is most known for his famous pieces "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and "Take the A Train." Duke had been given many honoraries and rewards such as 16 honorary doctorates, the president's gold medal, the medal of freedom, the french legion of honor, a star on the hollywood walk of fame,

Many jazz artist do not write their own music but Duke composed most of hs albums and compositions. Duke composed his songs so that every player in his orchestra would sound their best and each instrument was emphasized. He mainly focused on rhythm and how each instrument would sound together and how it would make the audience feel. Duke had many famous songs but a few are: “If it Ain’t Got That Swing,” “Sophisticated Lady,” “Take The ‘A Train.” Over his 50 year musical career he won many honors and awards for his songs.

Duke Ellington's pre-eminence in jazz is not only because of the very high aesthetic standard of his output and not simply due to his remarkable abilities as a pianist, composer and bandleader, but also to the fact that he has extended the boundaries of jazz more than any other musician, without abandoning the true essence of the music. Perhaps no other American musician left such a massive and challenging legacy in composition and performance.

The Cotton Club lost some of its freshness as performers played dazzling, yet emotionless jazz but Ellington brought his own style of music which interested the nation’s

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was a major sociologist historian, writer, editor, political activist, and cofounder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). During the Harlem renaissance and through his editorship of crisis magazine, he actively sought and presented the literary genius of black writers for the entire world to acknowledge and honor (Gale schools, 2004).

It’s quite hard not to sing a long or at least tap your foot to the beat. Jazz is a time period where “Swing” was about getting up and moving your body; as hard as it is not to get up and move with this piece, Ellington’s intentions were satisfied. Duke Ellington really strives to reach a peak of happiness through this piece. With the repetitive chorus and the song being as catchy as it is, it is rather hard not to get the words stuck in your head. While the music is mostly upbeat and exciting, it is also relaxing. “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” brings a sense of harmony to the listener.