Kennedy Ellington: Rebirth Of Music During The Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance brought the rebirth of music and social culture. One of the greatest musicians achieved influential accomplishments during this era; Kennedy Edward Ellington. The “King of Jazz” better known as Duke Ellington dominated the jazz era during the 1920s. During the Harlem Renaissance he exhibited his dedication to music and displayed impactful leadership characteristics. Ellington also established a legacy that swayed the future generations.

Duke Ellington, a young man raised in Washington D.C., dedicated his life to music. “The King of Jazz”, a name given to him by a jazz critic, invariably understood that his passion for music at a very young age. The talented composer took up piano lessons at the age of five and spent

Ellington conducted a jazz band that consisted of eighty-nine members and had to understand the musical attributes that they possessed. Historians explained that many leaders in the 1920s mistreated their members which left them unsatisfied resulting in many bands failing to stay together. Ellington treated his members as a family and remained loyal to them. He created different pieces for each of his members because he acknowledged that a jazz band was like a machine, when “one part did not work correctly the whole machine would fall apart.” Many also said that he paid his members generously, and made sure they were working comfortably and steadily. Under this leadership the band continued to be triumphant in the jazz era. With his guidance the band did a world tour that many bands, especially African Americans had not been granted, wrote over two thousand compositions, and recreated American

Duke Ellington was the first to do many things in his life which left a footmark on the world and created fundamental standards. Ellington was the first African American to perform in the Carnegie Hall where he performed his masterpiece, Black, Brown, and Beige. This developed a sense of pride in the African American community. He represented hesitant musicians, who believed that the audience would not accept different and innovative music. However, his different music allowed others to understand taking risks would establish a new style of music. Duke Ellington left behind a legacy of valuable lessons that helped other musicians with their struggles. Ellington passed away in 1974 due to cancer, but people all over the world paid tributes to him and acknowledged the achievements he earned. Some of the places that were dedicated to him were the Calvert Street Bridge in Washington D.C. which was changed to The Duke Ellington Bridge, schools changed their names to his stage name, and future musicians like Maurice Peres tried to recreate his compositions. Ellington’s innovative compositions also influenced the creation of a dance form called The Swing, which is still performed today, and he was given the name of “The Aristocrat of Swing.” His musical career led to advancements in music and dance, and created standards that are still looked up to