Chapter 6:
Bluesmen/Blueswomem
Bluesmen/ Blueswomem
Blues greats <(Grandesnomes do Blues)
Duke
Ellington
Edward
Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 to James Edward Ellington and
Daisy Kennedy Ellington. His father, James Edward Ellington, was born in
Lincolnton, North Carolina on April 15, 1879 and moved to Washington, D.C. in
1886 with his parents. Daisy Kennedy was born in Washington, D.C. on January 4,
1879, and was the daughter of a former American slave.
At the age
of seven, Ellington began taking piano lessons from Marietta Clinkscales. Ellington’s
childhood friends noticed that his casual, offhand manner, his easy grace, and
his dapper dress gave him the bearing of a young nobleman, and began calling
him Duke.
In the
summer of 1914, while working as a soda jerk at the Poodle Dog Cafe, he wrote
his first composition, "Soda Fountain Rag" (also known as the
"Poodle Dog Rag"). Ellington created "Soda Fountain Rag" by
ear, because he had not yet learned to read and write music. "I would play
the 'Soda Fountain Rag' as a one-step, two-step, waltz, tango, and fox
trot," Ellington recalled.
From 1917
through 1919, Ellington launched his musical career, painting commercial signs
by day and playing piano by night. Through his day job, Duke's entrepreneurial
side came out: when a customer would ask him to make a sign for a dance or
party, he would ask them if they had musical entertainment; if not, Ellington
would ask if he could play for them. He also had a messenger job with the U.S.
Navy and State Departments. Ellington moved out of his parents' home and bought
his own as he became a successful pianist. At first, he played in other
ensembles, and in late 1917 formed his first group, "The Duke’s
Serenaders"
Ellington played throughout the
Washington, D.C. area and into Virginia for private society balls and embassy
parties. The band included Otto Hardwick, who switched from bass to saxophone;
Arthur Whetsol on trumpet; Elmer Snowden on banjo; and Sonny Greer on drums.
The band thrived, performing for both African-American and white audiences, a
rarity during the racially divided times.
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