Duke Ellington and erasers
“I’m happy to report that Duke Ellington’s name no longer appears on the Blackwing Experience page.”
Duke Ellington, Blackwing Johnson’s Baby Powder user
“The context for this post, as explained in an earlier post: a pencil company’s choice to market its merchandise by using the Ellington name.”
Duke Ellington, sombrero user
“A pencil manufacturer’s association of the Ellington name with its replica version of the Blackwing pencil is a matter of very wishful thinking. Others might call it misleading.”
Duke Ellington, balalaika user
“The context for this post is a pencil company’s choice to market its merchandise by using the Ellington name.”
Duke Ellington, Blackwing pencils, and aspirational branding
“It’s curious that as Moleskine steps back from the abyss of aspirational branding (‘the legendary notebook of Hemingway, Picasso, and Chatwin’), California Cedar has jumped in, head first, without even putting on a helmet.”
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...
Ellington for beginners
Review of The Great Paris Concert, the best introduction to the music of Duke Ellington
Proust and the finger-snapping bit
At a social gathering, the Princesse des Laumes listens to a pianist play Liszt. She also watches Mme. de Cambremer, who is both listening a...
Ellington in Illinois
Two concerts for jazz band and orchestra