What was duke ellington famous for?

Duke Ellington was born April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. A major figure in the history of jazz music, his career spanned more than half a century, during which time he composed thousands of songs for the stage, screen and contemporary songbook. read more

Charles Mingus, who had been fired by Ellington decades earlier, wrote the elegy "Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love" in 1974, a few months after Ellington's death. Stevie Wonder wrote the song "Sir Duke" as a tribute to Ellington in 1976. read more

Duke Ellington was an American jazz composer and performer who is among one of the greatest names in the history of jazz. This biography profiles his childhood, life, music career, achievements and timeline. read more