Duke Ellington was born on this day in 1899 as Edward Kennedy Ellington in Washington, D.C. He would make music for over 50 years, starting at age 15 when he wrote his first composition. He started to play professionally two years later. In 1923 he moved to New York and founded his band, which would grow to 10 members over time. Ellington recorded hundreds of songs throughout that decade.
After a few years, the band became a regular act at the Cotton Club, which broadcast its shows. His five-year tenure there made him a star, and music industry experts started to notice his raw talent as a composer. In 1931, he was invited to visit the White House, and he toured Europe twice that decade.
Listeners today generally consider the band's peak period to have started in 1939. After World War II, his work (and many other bands') saw a dip in interest. He struggled financially but kept the band running on his composer royalties. His career saw a revival in 1956. By his 60s he was still churning out new recordings. He performed his final full concert in March 1974; Ellington died later that year in New York.
For more on Ellington, check out these pieces from Biography.com and PBS.
