Caption from poster__

 “ On becoming more acquainted with the word of

the Bible, I began to understand so much more

of what I had been taught, and of what I had

learned about life and about the people in mine. ”

                                                               Duke  Ellington

 Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974), (see Jazz royalty), was an American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader. One of the most influential figures in jazz history, Ellington was one of America's most significant twentieth century composers. He led his own orchestra for fifty years and composed more than 2000 songs as well as numerous longer compositions. While most of his compositions are categorized as jazz, Ellington was reluctant to describe his work as anything more specific than "American music". The word jazz was too narrow for Ellington, whose greatest compliment was to describe others who had impressed him as "beyond category". Some of the biggest names in jazz passed through the ranks of Duke Ellington's orchestra, among them Johnny Hodges, Bubber Miley, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney, Juan Tizol, Sonny Greer, Otto Hardwick, Clark Terry, Jimmy Blanton, Lawrence Brown, Louie Bellson, Ray Nance, Billy Strayhorn, Paul Gonsalves, Wellman Braud, and William "Cat" Anderson. Many of these musicians played in Ellington's orchestra for decades, and while many were noteworthy in their own right, it was Ellington's musical genius that melded them into one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz. His compositions were often written specifically for the style and skills of these individuals, such as "Jeep's Blues" for Johnny Hodges, "Concerto for Cootie"(Do nothing Till You Hear From Me) for Cootie Williams and "The Mooche" for Tricky Sam Nanton. He also recorded songs written by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol's "Caravan" and "Perdido", which brought the "Spanish Tinge" to big-band jazz. Ellington was one of the twentieth century's best-known African-American celebrities. He recorded for many American record companies, and appeared in several films. Ellington and his orchestra toured the United States and Europe regularly before and after World War II.