The Jazz Reformer

In the United States, the 1930s were all about production and wealth, showmanship and entertainment. People wanted ways of being pleased, and with that came the evolution of music. During this era, Jazz music was becoming increasingly popular. Founded in the late 1800s in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jazz was a form of music centuries in the making. Its origins drew way back to the slave days in Africa. A ring shout, a transcendent religious ritual practiced by West Indie slaves, would influence the shouts and hollers during a jazz session. Jazz music was mainly known for its free flowing style, where musicians could improvise at any time, creating many complex syncopation and rhythms. Although Jazz was traditionally created by African Americans, many white people also caught on and thoroughly enjoyed the music too. This prompted  great production of the music, and jazz artists would become stars. There are many famous jazz artists, like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. However, I wanted to look at probably the most famous composer during the Jazz era: Duke Ellington.

Contrary to the origin of his music, Ellington grew up was born in 1899 in Washington DC, ony 1000 miles north of the birthplace of Jazz. Growing up, he was greatly inspired by ragtime music and artists like Scott Joplin. Ragtime music also stemmed from black roots. As a young adult, he moved to Harlem and joined the Harlem Renaissance. There he played in lots of nightclubs, enhancing his name. Eventually he was chosen to lead the Cotton Club Orchestra, a nightclub that ironically was white-only but allowed black performers. Although skilled with many instruments, Ellington would often play the piano. He would take his orchestra on a world tour, and gain international recognition. Ellington was able to stay strong throughout the Great Depression, a time where 90% of the artists had dropped out. He described music by saying, "You've got to find away of saying it without saying it". As a performer, Ellington was unique because of his musical flair and drama. He was many things- a composer, pianist, and bandleader, as well as an amazing entertainer. He was able to make his audience "swing" to the music while having a fresh blend of rhythms and melodies. Ellington would die in 1974.


Impact:
As a composer of over 3000 songs, Ellington set the standard for jazz and pop music. He was a very influential composer, with his style mimiced across the nation during the 20th century. His skills as an entertainer were also notable, as was his flair for improvisation. Ellington's accomplishments were not unnoticed, though. Among his achievements included the Presidential Medal of Freedom, over a dozen grammies, the Pulitzer prize, and being on the commemorative quarter of the District of Columbia.

Sources:
http://www.dukeellington.com/ellingtonbio.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm