Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death in 1974. Born in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based in New York City from the mid-1920s onward and gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem.
Duke Ellington's influence on music has spanned several generations, and his compositions, such as "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" and "Sophisticated Lady" are recognized as major works of jazz literature.
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