Jazz

D.C.

Duke Ellington

Top Songs By Duke Ellington

In a Sentimental MoodDuke Ellington & John Coltrane

Listen to My Little Brown Book by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, see lyrics, music video & more!

My Little Brown BookDuke Ellington & John Coltrane

Listen to Lotus Blossom by Duke Ellington, see lyrics, music video & more!

Lotus BlossomDuke Ellington

Listen to I Can't Get Started by Duke Ellington, see lyrics, music video & more!

I Can't Get StartedDuke Ellington

It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong

Listen to Anatomy of a Murder (1959) [Stereo Single Version] by Duke Ellington, see lyrics, music video & more!

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) [Stereo Single Version]Duke Ellington

Listen to Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, see lyrics, music video & more!

Satin DollDuke Ellington

Listen to All Too Soon by Duke Ellington, see lyrics, music video & more!

All Too SoonDuke Ellington

Listen to Take the "A" Train by Duke Ellington, see lyrics, music video & more!

Take the "A" TrainDuke Ellington

Take the 'A' TrainDuke Ellington

Latest Release

Listen to Ellington in Order, Vol. 8 (1937) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMEllington in Order, Vol. 8 (1937)Duke Ellington

More albums from Duke Ellington

Listen to Copenhagen 1958 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMCopenhagen 1958Duke Ellington

Listen to Jazz for Winter: Duke Ellington by Duke Ellington

ALBUMJazz for Winter: Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to Ellington In Order, Vol. 4 (1932) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMEllington In Order, Vol. 4 (1932)Duke Ellington

Listen to Ellington In Order, Volume 2 (1928-30) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMEllington In Order, Volume 2 (1928-30)Duke Ellington

Listen to 16me. Paris Jazz Festival 1er. Novembre 1969 (Restauración 2022) by Duke Ellington & Newport All-Stars

ALBUM16me. Paris Jazz Festival 1er. Novembre 1969 (Restauración 2022)Duke Ellington & Newport All-Stars

ALBUMBerlin 1959Duke Ellington

Listen to Uppsala 1971 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMUppsala 1971Duke Ellington

Listen to The Washingtonians by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe WashingtoniansDuke Ellington

Listen to Solo Piano Concert 1964 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMSolo Piano Concert 1964Duke Ellington

Listen to Intrinsic Explorations of the 1960s by Duke Ellington

ALBUMIntrinsic Explorations of the 1960sDuke Ellington

Listen to An Intimate Piano Session by Duke Ellington

ALBUMAn Intimate Piano SessionDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington: The Sacred Concerts by Junges Vokalensemble Hannover, Klaus-Jurgen Etzold, Fette Hupe, Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, Duke Ellington, Claudia Burghard, Joachim Rust & Timo Warnecke

ALBUMDuke Ellington: The Sacred ConcertsJunges Vokalensemble Hannover, Klaus-Jurgen Etzold, Fette Hupe, Jörn Marcussen-Wulff, Duke Ellington, Claudia Burghard, Joachim Rust & Timo Warnecke

Listen to The Songs of Bessie Smith / It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing by Teresa Brewer, Count Basie, Duke Ellington & Thad Jones

ALBUMThe Songs of Bessie Smith / It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That SwingTeresa Brewer, Count Basie, Duke Ellington & Thad Jones

Listen to The Duke (Remastered 2014) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Duke (Remastered 2014)Duke Ellington

Listen to The Treasury Shows, Vol. 16 - Pt. 2 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Treasury Shows, Vol. 16 - Pt. 2Duke Ellington

Listen to The Treasury Shows, Vol. 15 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Treasury Shows, Vol. 15Duke Ellington

Listen to Storyville Presents The A-Z Jazz Encyclopedia-E by Duke Ellington

ALBUMStoryville Presents The A-Z Jazz Encyclopedia-EDuke Ellington

ALBUMEllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to The Joy We Keep In by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Joy We Keep InDuke Ellington

Listen to At the Hurricane by Duke Ellington

ALBUMAt the HurricaneDuke Ellington

Listen to At the Alhambra by Duke Ellington

ALBUMAt the AlhambraDuke Ellington

Listen to Ivie And Duke Vol 2 by Ivie Anderson & Duke Ellington

ALBUMIvie And Duke Vol 2Ivie Anderson & Duke Ellington

Listen to Von Bach bis Ellington: Thilo Wolf und Windsbacher Knabenchor by Windsbach Boys Choir, Thilo Wolf Quintett, Karl-Friedrich Beringer, Thilo Wolf & Duke Ellington

ALBUMVon Bach bis Ellington: Thilo Wolf und Windsbacher KnabenchorWindsbach Boys Choir, Thilo Wolf Quintett, Karl-Friedrich Beringer, Thilo Wolf & Duke Ellington

Listen to Raisin' The Rent by Ivie Anderson & Duke Ellington

ALBUMRaisin' The RentIvie Anderson & Duke Ellington

Listen to Play On! (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMPlay On! (Original Broadway Cast Recording)Duke Ellington

Listen to Far Away Star by Alice Babs, Duke Ellington & Nils Lindberg

ALBUMFar Away StarAlice Babs, Duke Ellington & Nils Lindberg

Listen to The Duke 1940, Vol. 2 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Duke 1940, Vol. 2Duke Ellington

Listen to The Duke 1940, Vol. 1 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Duke 1940, Vol. 1Duke Ellington

Listen to Verve Jazz Masters 4: Duke Ellington by Duke Ellington

ALBUMVerve Jazz Masters 4: Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to In My Solitude: Solo Piano and Small Group Performances by Duke Ellington, Sir Roland Hanna & Billy Strayhorn

ALBUMIn My Solitude: Solo Piano and Small Group PerformancesDuke Ellington, Sir Roland Hanna & Billy Strayhorn

Listen to The Feeling of Jazz by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Feeling of JazzDuke Ellington

Listen to Great Times! - Piano Duets by Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington

ALBUMGreat Times! - Piano DuetsBilly Strayhorn & Duke Ellington

Listen to West Coast Tour by Duke Ellington

ALBUMWest Coast TourDuke Ellington

Listen to Carnegie Hall Concert, December 1947 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMCarnegie Hall Concert, December 1947Duke Ellington

Listen to The Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts, December 1944 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts, December 1944Duke Ellington

Listen to The Intimate Ellington (Remastered) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Intimate Ellington (Remastered)Duke Ellington

Listen to The Third Sacred Concert by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Third Sacred ConcertDuke Ellington

ALBUMThe PianistDuke Ellington

Listen to This One's for Blanton by Duke Ellington & Ray Brown

ALBUMThis One's for BlantonDuke Ellington & Ray Brown

Listen to The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Afro-Eurasian EclipseDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington's My People by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington's My PeopleDuke Ellington

Listen to New Orleans Suite by Duke Ellington

ALBUMNew Orleans SuiteDuke Ellington

Listen to Second Sacred Concert by Duke Ellington

ALBUMSecond Sacred ConcertDuke Ellington

Listen to Francis A. & Edward K. by Frank Sinatra & Duke Ellington

ALBUMFrancis A. & Edward K.Frank Sinatra & Duke Ellington

Listen to Orchestral Works by Duke Ellington

ALBUMOrchestral WorksDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington, Vol. 1 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington, Vol. 1Duke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington, Vol. 2 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington, Vol. 2Duke Ellington

Listen to Ella at Duke's Place by Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington

ALBUMElla at Duke's PlaceElla Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Artie Shaw and Their Orchestras by Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson & Artie Shaw

ALBUMDuke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Artie Shaw and Their OrchestrasDuke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson & Artie Shaw

Listen to The Duke at Tanglewood by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Duke at TanglewoodDuke Ellington

Listen to Plays With the Original Motion Picture Score - Mary Poppins by Duke Ellington

ALBUMPlays With the Original Motion Picture Score - Mary PoppinsDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Sessions by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington's Jazz Violin SessionsDuke Ellington

Listen to The Early Duke Ellington by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Early Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington & John Coltrane by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

ALBUMDuke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John Coltrane

Listen to Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins by Duke Ellington & Coleman Hawkins

ALBUMDuke Ellington Meets Coleman HawkinsDuke Ellington & Coleman Hawkins

Listen to The Great Paris Concert by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Great Paris ConcertDuke Ellington

Listen to The Symphonic Ellington (Remastered) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Symphonic Ellington (Remastered)Duke Ellington

Listen to Money Jungle by Duke Ellington

ALBUMMoney JungleDuke Ellington

Listen to First Time! The Count Meets the Duke by Duke Ellington & Count Basie

ALBUMFirst Time! The Count Meets the DukeDuke Ellington & Count Basie

Listen to Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Featuring Paul Gonsalves (Remastered) by Duke Ellington featuring Paul Gonsalves

ALBUMDuke Ellington and His Orchestra Featuring Paul Gonsalves (Remastered)Duke Ellington featuring Paul Gonsalves

Listen to Music Of Duke Ellington And Others by Duke Ellington

ALBUMMusic Of Duke Ellington And OthersDuke Ellington

Listen to The Great Reunion by Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Great ReunionLouis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

Listen to The Great Summit: Complete Sessions (Deluxe Edition) by Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Great Summit: Complete Sessions (Deluxe Edition)Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

Listen to The Nutcracker Suite (Expanded Edition) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Nutcracker Suite (Expanded Edition)Duke Ellington

Listen to Blues In Orbit by Duke Ellington

ALBUMBlues In OrbitDuke Ellington

Listen to Three Suites by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThree SuitesDuke Ellington

Listen to Piano In the Background by Duke Ellington

ALBUMPiano In the BackgroundDuke Ellington

Listen to Piano In the Foreground by Duke Ellington

ALBUMPiano In the ForegroundDuke Ellington

Listen to Festival Session by Duke Ellington

ALBUMFestival SessionDuke Ellington

Listen to At The Bal Masque by Duke Ellington

ALBUMAt The Bal MasqueDuke Ellington

Listen to Side By Side (2025 Remaster) by Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges

ALBUMSide By Side (2025 Remaster)Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges

Listen to Back to Back by Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges

ALBUMBack to BackDuke Ellington & Johnny Hodges

Listen to Anatomy of a Murder (From the Sound Track of the Motion Picture) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMAnatomy of a Murder (From the Sound Track of the Motion Picture)Duke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington's Spacemen: The Cosmic Scene (Expanded Edition) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington's Spacemen: The Cosmic Scene (Expanded Edition)Duke Ellington

Listen to Such Sweet Thunder by Duke Ellington

ALBUMSuch Sweet ThunderDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington Presents… (Remastered 2014) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington Presents… (Remastered 2014)Duke Ellington

Listen to Historically Speaking - The Duke (Remastered 2014) by Duke Ellington

ALBUMHistorically Speaking - The Duke (Remastered 2014)Duke Ellington

Listen to The Duke Plays Ellington by Duke Ellington

ALBUMThe Duke Plays EllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to Ellington Uptown by Duke Ellington

ALBUMEllington UptownDuke Ellington

Listen to Masterpieces By Ellington by Duke Ellington

ALBUMMasterpieces By EllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to Mood Ellington by Duke Ellington

ALBUMMood EllingtonDuke Ellington

Listen to Duke Ellington Vol.3 by Duke Ellington

ALBUMDuke Ellington Vol.3Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington's Popular Music Videos

Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool (Live)

Duke Ellington

Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, March 7, 1965)

Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington

In A Mellow Tone (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, December 17, 1961)

Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

Duke's Place (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, December 17, 1961)

Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) [Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, March 7, 1965]

Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington

Rockin' In Rhythm (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, April 6, 1969)

Things Aren't What They Used to Be

Duke Ellington

Black and Tan Fantasy

Duke Ellington

Artist Playlists

Duke Ellington Essentials

The jazz age's most elegant ambassador.

Duke Ellington: Chill

Lean back and relax with some of the mellowest cuts.

Duke Ellington: Deep Cuts

The jazz giant's oeuvre overflows with fascinating surprises.

About Duke Ellington

Hometown

Washington, D.C.

Born

April 29, 1899

Genre

Jazz

One of the most influential bandleaders, composers, and pianists in jazz history, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. He made his mark as a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance in 1924 with the Washingtonians, launching a multi-year stint at the Cotton Club in 1927 under his own name. His silken arrangements and ambitious writing quickly set him apart from other jazz bandleaders, and over the decades he composed specifically for a committed group of distinctive instrumentalists, including alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges and cornetist Rex Stewart. Ellington was joined by fellow composer and arranger Billy Strayhorn in 1939, and together they produced a string of jazz standards like “Take the ‘A’ Train,” bringing a new rigor and sophistication to big band music. Ellington continued to compose, record, and tour until his death in 1974.

Duke Ellington has also released music as a member of The Harlem Footwarmers, Billy Strayhorn Trio, Duke Ellington Quartet, Duke Ellington & His Jungle Band, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Duke Ellington's Spacemen, The Louis Lester Band, Duke Ellington & His Kentucky Club Orchestra, The Washingtonians, and Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra.

Musical InfluencesDuke Ellington's musical influences include Maurice Ravel, Meade "Lux" Lewis, Scott Joplin and more.

Influenced by Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington has influenced the music of John Coltrane, Brad Mehldau, Oscar Peterson and more.

Similar to: Duke Ellington

Discover more music and artists similar to Duke Ellington, like Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra, Oscar Peterson Trio