Duke Ellington April 29, 1899

Duke Ellington born in 1899 was one of the most talented musical directors of all time. When you can identify a musical genius by one name you know that that person has a stature of greatness. On April 29, 1899, Mr Ellington was born and his contribution to music was eternally bound. I mean when you hear the one name monikers of Count, Louie, Ella, Cab, Sarah, Billie, Charlie, Dizzy, Thelonius, and Miles you know that greatness abounds. Well, the cream of that crop was the impeccable Duke Ellington. Duke Ellington was as cool as an ice cube floating on iceberg on the North Atlantic. Duke Ellington personified the word cool in his musical arrangements. When Harlem was bustling and vibrant with the sounds of black excellence Duke Ellington was leading the band. Take a ride on the A Train with a Satin Doll who’s in a Sentimental Mood because Things Ain’t What They Used To Be. Yes, Black America loved The Duke. Hell, all America should’ve loved The Duke. One problem Duke Ellington was a proud black man and that was problematic in a nation that used race to measure greatness. Thinking about Duke Ellington today as look at that Sophisticated Lady sitting in Solitude listening to That Feeling of Jazz in Limbo.