Roy Vondrasek
10-22-17
Keyboards
Duke Ellington Duke Ellington was an amazing keyboardist. He was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington DC. He was understandably musical and began piano training at age 7. Both of his parents were musical, however his dad, James Edward Ellington, was a butler at the White House. Religion played a big role in his life; his mother was a baptist and his father was a methodist. He got a scholarship from Pratt for art but he turned it down to pursue music. His move to pursue music instead of taking a scholarship is of the many signs of his passion. His first song he wrote at age 15, he called it Soda Fountain Rag because he was a soda jerk as a kid. He was an incredible musician who was a bandleader of a sextet that eventually turned into a 10 …show more content…
Billy Strayhorn joined the ensemble in 1939, not as a performer, but instead helping Duke Ellington with the writing of the music. Ben Webster and Jimmy Blanton also joined the ensemble as bassist and saxophonist. These additions greatly improved the sound and feel of the band. This all was happening during the transition from the 1930’s to the 1940’s and the second World War. After the second World War his style of music dropped off; however, he continued touring and adapting to the changing climate, he added vocalists and changed the style, always improving his music. Once again Duke Ellington performed in a film, named Anatomy of Murder, this time winning him three Grammys. During his band’s time producing music for movies they were also recording music and touring live shows. The band even made some pop records, showing of the band’s versatility. Ellington won “Best Original Jazz Performance” grammy as a tour. He only stopped when he got sick in 1974. He had lung cancer and pneumonia. The band did not die with him however, it lived on through two more generations through his son and
10-22-17
Keyboards
Duke Ellington Duke Ellington was an amazing keyboardist. He was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington DC. He was understandably musical and began piano training at age 7. Both of his parents were musical, however his dad, James Edward Ellington, was a butler at the White House. Religion played a big role in his life; his mother was a baptist and his father was a methodist. He got a scholarship from Pratt for art but he turned it down to pursue music. His move to pursue music instead of taking a scholarship is of the many signs of his passion. His first song he wrote at age 15, he called it Soda Fountain Rag because he was a soda jerk as a kid. He was an incredible musician who was a bandleader of a sextet that eventually turned into a 10 …show more content…
Billy Strayhorn joined the ensemble in 1939, not as a performer, but instead helping Duke Ellington with the writing of the music. Ben Webster and Jimmy Blanton also joined the ensemble as bassist and saxophonist. These additions greatly improved the sound and feel of the band. This all was happening during the transition from the 1930’s to the 1940’s and the second World War. After the second World War his style of music dropped off; however, he continued touring and adapting to the changing climate, he added vocalists and changed the style, always improving his music. Once again Duke Ellington performed in a film, named Anatomy of Murder, this time winning him three Grammys. During his band’s time producing music for movies they were also recording music and touring live shows. The band even made some pop records, showing of the band’s versatility. Ellington won “Best Original Jazz Performance” grammy as a tour. He only stopped when he got sick in 1974. He had lung cancer and pneumonia. The band did not die with him however, it lived on through two more generations through his son and