A young boy from Washington, DC, who loved ragtime music
An ambitious young composer who was a star of the Harlem Renaissance
One of the most important figures in the history of jazz
A pivotal fixture of the Harlem Renaissance, Duke Ellington was the bandleader of the historic Cotton Club and a master composer — writing close to 3,000 songs in his lifetime and capturing the spirit of the Black experience in the Unites States. Over a 50-year career, Ellington became one of the biggest names in jazz as we know it. He went on to win 13 Grammys, a Pulitzer, and receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. Who Was Duke Ellington? follows the exciting, multifaceted journey of this musical genius and takes a look at what truly makes Ellington an artist “beyond category.”
Author
M. D. Payne
M. D. Payne is the author of the gross-out horror series Monster Juice and has contributed to the New York Times bestselling Who Was? series, tackling spooky titles like Who Is R. L. Stine? and What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
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