Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (n 29 aprilie 1899 – m 24 may 1974) became one of the most influential artists in the history of recorded music, and is largely recognized as one of the greatest figures in the history of jazz, though his music stretched into various other genres, including blues, gospel, movie soundtracks, popular, and classical.
His career spanned five decades and comprised of leadi
ng his orchestra, an inexhaustible songbook, scoring for movies and world tours. Due to his inventive use of the orchestra, or big band, and in part to his refined public manner and extraordinary charisma, he is generally considered to have elevated the perception of jazz to an artistic level on par with that of classical music.
His reputation increased after his death, and he received a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board in year 1999. (Wikipedia)