What was Duke Ellington’s early life like?

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Duke Ellington grew up in Washington, D.C., in a secure middle-class family that encouraged his interests in the fine arts. He began studying piano at age seven, studied art during his high-school years, and was awarded (but did not accept) a scholarship to the Pratt Institute. He began performing music professionally at age 17.

How did Duke Ellington become famous?

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Benefiting from the expertise of a large ensemble that included several important jazz artists, Duke Ellington broke away from the conventions of band-section scoring. Using new harmonies to blend his musicians’ individual sounds and illuminating subtle moods with ingenious combinations of instruments, he created one of the most distinctive ensemble sounds of Western music.