Playing
Composing
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974)
SEE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington
Duke was an African American jazz pianist, composer,and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life.
He played music that had a universal appeal and melted racial barriers as it was heard and understood. Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both around the world and at home. He gave American music its own sound for the first time. In his fifty year career, he played over 20,000 performances in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East as well as Asia.
In his early career he was a regular at the Royal Peacock on Auburn Ave. Once, John Wesley Dobbs met Duke Ellington at Ma Suttons restaurant and convinced the Duke to come to his home and play piano for some of his girls, including Rennie and Geekie to their great delight.