Billy Strayhorn centenary
William Thomas Strayhorn was born on November 29, 1915.
Duke Ellington, The Conny Plank Session
The Conny Plank Session is the only Ellington release I know of to be named for a recording engineer.
On Duke Ellington’s birthday
“Duke” is not the only nickname I’ve had or enjoyed.”
Ellington sings!
“Moon Maiden” is to my knowledge the only singing Ellington ever did on record.
Herb Jeffries (1913–2014)
He was, I believe, the last link to the 1940s Ellington band.
On Duke Ellington’s birthday
LPs. LPs.
Alice Babs (1924–2014)
Alice Babs was a child star, a musician of extraordinary range, and perhaps the unlikeliest Ellingtonian.
Adam Gopnik on Duke Ellington
“Gopnik’s understanding of his subjects — Ellington and jazz — is limited. That’s a polite way of saying that he doesn’t know what he’s writing about.”
Duke Ellington in Afghanistan
The Ellington band visited Afghanistan in 1963 while on tour for the United States State Department.
On Duke Ellington’s birthday
From a 1944 New Yorker profile: Ellington on food.
Maria Cole (1922–2012)
In the 1940s, as Marie Ellington, she sang with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Ellington and an iPhone app
“What is that music?” I asked myself.
On Duke Ellington’s birthday
“The popularity of it doesn’t matter, doesn’t mean anything, because when you get into popularity, then you’re talking about money and not music.”
Kay Davis (1920–2012)
Katherine McDonald sang as Kay Davis with the Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1944 to 1950
Duke Ellington and a Blackwing
EKE, in a BBC studio, at work with a Blackwing pencil.
Butch Ballard (1918–2011)
One of the few musicians to have played with both the Count Basie and Ellington bands.
Duke Ellington, pothead?
If Ellington was a “pothead,” his use was a very well-kept secret.
On Duke Ellington’s birthday
Ellington at the Château de Goutelas, 1966
Fargo, 1940
From NPR, the story behind one of the greatest Ellington recordings — Fargo, North Dakota; November 7, 1940.
Duke Ellington, morning person?
Eight o'clock in the morning, on a children's television show
Joya Sherrill (1927–2010)
She sang with Duke Ellington
Charles Mingus defies bomb threat
"Racism planted that bomb, but racism ain't strong enough to kill this music. If I'm going to die, I'm ready. But I'm going out playing 'Sophisticated Lady.'"
Duke Ellington, 1953
A hilarious appearance on What's My Line
On Duke Ellington's birthday
Rex Stewart describes "the Governor's" composing practices
Thelonious Monk plays Duke Ellington
1969 concert performances
Buster Cooper
Trombonist, one of the last Ellingtonians
On Duke Ellington's birthday
A photograph and an excerpt from Music Is My Mistress
Oh, Lee—wan—do!
Ad for Lewandos, New England chain of cleaners, whose name inspired the opening phrase of Duke Ellington's "East St. Louis Toodle-oo"
The Duke Box
Duke Ellington , 1940s live recordings, 8 CDs
On Duke Ellington's birthday
Roaming through the jungle, the jungle of "oohs" and "ahs," searching for a more agreeable noise, I live a life of primitivity with the mind...