Duke Ellington: The Soda Fountain Rag

Duke Ellington was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899. The name “Duke” was a nickname given to him because of his choice of clothing. Duke’s parent both worked to live a decent life his mother a domestic and his father a butler who had a part-time catering business. Duke studied piano since the age of seven and was influences by pianist, James Johnson and Willie the Lion Smith. He wrote his first song “The Soda Fountain Rag”, at the age of seventeen. This title was influenced by a small part-time job that he had as a soda jerk.
Duke attended the Armstrong Training School to study commercial arts but he wanted to be a musician so he never completed his course. In 1918 he formed a group called “The Dukes” and they performed in Washington