Born in Washington D.C. in April 29, 1899, Edward Kennedy Ellington began studying piano at the young age of seven. His childhood friends gave the him the nickname of “Duke” because of his elegant and flashy sense of style. He studied the arts in high school, even earning a scholarship to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, which he declined. He gave up the fine arts in favor of a career in music. By 1919, Duke played in a small band called the Washingtonians. In the early 1920s, they moved to New York City. His group performed in Broadway nightclubs. As time passed, the sextet grew into a ten, and then later, fifteen piece ensemble. From 1927 to 1931, Ellington’s band became the house band at the exclusive Cotton Club, which catered