( – promoted by DeniseVelez)
Taking a time-out today from all the racist ugly, and tippin’ my top hat to the man who for me epitomizes the greatest American music.
Today is the 115th anniversary of the birth, in Washington DC of Edward Kennedy Ellington-better known worldwide as the “Duke”.
Duke Ellington (1899-1974) grew up in Washington, D.C. during one of the most difficult periods for African-Americans. Social and political conditions for blacks were worsening in not only the South, but also the North. Many blacks were migrating from the South to the North hoping for a better life. In 1896, The United States Supreme Court declared racial segregation legal in public facilities in Plessy v. Ferguson. In Washington, D.C., segregation was greatly increasing. The Lincoln Memorial towered over the city as a symbol of equality, yet at its dedication in 1918, blacks had to sit in a segregated area. Despite all of these tensions, many blacks drew from the strength of the community, the vitality and the spirit of their rich culture. Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was such a person whose strong pride worked effectively against the forces of racism. He fought this battle against racial problems and tensions with ease and grace.
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 at 1217 22nd Street NW, Washington D.C. His family had strong roots in Washington. His mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington, was born in D.C. in 1879 to a middle class family. She was a woman of great beauty and intelligence and had completed high school, rare for a black woman at the time. She instilled in her son love and confidence that would remain with him throughout his career. In return, Ellington idolized his mother. His father, James Edward Ellington, was born in North Carolina, but like many blacks had migrated to Washington searching for a better life. James Edward Ellington worked as a butler for a white physician and occasionally worked at catered events in the White House.
Like many black folks the Ellington family and his maternal Kennedy line had roots in Virginia and North Carolina that came from recent enslavement. And like many black families, there was a move to the nation’s capitol, where though segregated, there was employment.
Though the signature tune for the Ellington Band became “Take the A Train”, written by Billy Strayhorn, referencing the express train that went to Harlem that had recently debuted in New York City, the first band he became the leader of was “The Washingtonians“, founded in the early ’20s by Elmer Snowden. Ellington took over the leadership in 1924.
Ellington lives on in DC, and a fitting tribute to him is the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
The goal of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts is to give a free arts education to very talented students in the D.C. area – young people who might never have the benefit of private lessons. The school celebrated its own 40th birthday last weekend.
“We have a saying: If you have to be an artist, this is the place to be,” says Davey Yarborough, director of jazz studies at Ellington for 30 years.
Most of the students at Ellington are African-American. They had to pass rigorous auditions and interviews to get in – to study not just jazz, but also classical music, dance, drama and visual arts, along with a full academic program. The graduation rate is 99 percent, and 98 percent go to college, some on full scholarships.
I lived in DC when it was founded in 1974, and was a supporter, having been given the chance to attend a similar public school in NYC.
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts was established in 1974 and remains the sole D.C. public high school to offer a dual curriculum encompassing professional arts training and academic enrichment, in preparation for college and careers in the arts.
By naming one of his jazz bands The Washingtonians, Duke Ellington made his home part of his persona. D.C. philanthropist and avid art collector Peggy Cooper Cafritz and the late dancer and choreographer Mike Malone returned the favor, building this school to house the creative soul of the District, and to reflect the rich cultural diversity of the United States.
The school will be holding its Ellingtonia! Festival, Saturday, April 26 – Friday, May 9.
No coincidence that Peggy Cooper-Cafritz, was also an early supporter of Pacifica radio’s WPFW-FM, which we put on the air after a long struggle in DC (as the first minority controlled public radio station) with “Take the A Train”, on Feb 28, 1977.
Around the world there will be other festivals and symposia honoring the Duke. Upcoming in Amsterdam, May 14-18 is this event.
Seventy-five years after Ellington’s famous second trip to Europe (April and May 1939), which took him to Amsterdam for a concert at the Concertgebouw, and 75 years after he started his collaboration with Billy Strayhorn, Amsterdam will be the site of the 22nd International Duke Ellington Conference, hosted by the Conservatory of Amsterdam (Europe’s largest jazz school), in its beautiful new building and concert halls, in collaboration with the world-famous Bimhuis concert-stage, and the International Duke Ellington Study Group.
There is no way I can play all my favorite Ellington here today. Take a look and a listen to diaries like Ellington at Newport, or Evolution’s fine Sir Duke Easter Special. For illuminating conversation about Ellington and his music (and all black music), check out Breath of Life, where they featured multiple covers and versions of his now classic “Prelude to a Kiss“.
Since I needed my soul lifted today I decided to revisit Ellington’s spiritual side, his concert “Concert Of Sacred Music – Grace Cathedral (San Francisco, CA). September 16, 1965”. (full concert)
And then there is the Queen of Gospel Mahalia Jackson, who graced Ellington with this solo of his Come Sunday, which is now included in the United Methodist Hymnal.
When she sings “God of love, Please look down and see my people through” one does not have to be a believer to feel the power that has sustained us through ugly days of hate in the past and present.
Duke Ellington believed that music was an expression of freedom
Put it this way: Jazz is a good barometer of freedom… In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country
And that art is dangerous.
“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don’t want it.”
Love you Duke.
Cross-posted from Black Kos
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