Duke Ellington was one of the most influential jazz musicians ever. In a time when music was going through a transformation from a ragtime style to a jazz-blues mix, Duke was there to add his own style. He was a composer, conductor, and pianist who revolutionized the way music was written and earned the title of being the "great American composer." (Williams, 51) Duke Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. in 1899. At the age of 17 …showed first 75 words of 872 total…

…showed last 75 words of 872 total…have to sacrife somethings, just ad Duke did, to succeed in life. Duke Ellington did not create his music to make money, but to simply please his audience. That is why I believe Duke Ellington is the great jazz musician of our time. Bibliography Bibliography Brown, John R. Legendary Jazz Musicians. Freehold Publishing Inc., 1954, New York Ellington, Duke. Music Is My Mistress. Doubleday Publishing, 1973. Williams, Mercer. Duke Ellington in Person. Houghton, 1978. Da Capo, n.d...