Duke Ellington: The Master Of American Music

Duke Ellington:The Master of American MusicCaleb Marlin WislerMU 182: Music AppreciationKentucky Mountain Bible CollegeApril 14, 2021American music has had many musicians who have impacted music but almost no onehas had the impact that Duke Ellington has. He helped solidify one of, if not the mostrecognizable genres in America. It can be heard in restaurants, on the radio, or even if someoneis listening to it in their free time. The genre is jazz. It is one of the most recognizable genres inthe United States and has had some big names to go along with it, almost none as big as DukeEllington.Edward Kennedy Ellington was born to James Edward Ellington and Daisy KennedyEllington on April 29th, 18991in Washington D.C.He was raised in a stable middle-class homewhere his parents successfully kept him away from the racial discrimination of the times. This isimportant because Jim Crow laws were at their peak and since it was only thirty-four years afterthe Civil War and the end of slavery in America, racism and discrimination were heavy in theUnited States. Since Duke Ellington was sheltered in his home he did not experience this as achild. He got the nickname Duke from a friend who thought his manors were