For nearly fifty years, Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington was one of America's most famous musicians. Mark Tucker traces Ellington's childhood and young adult years in Washington, D. C. where he got his start as a ragtime pianist, and also draws on accounts from newspapers, periodicals, and trade publications. This is perhaps one of the definitive works on the great Duke Ellington's early years.
Editorial Reviews
"Outstanding....Highly recommended for all jazz collections." --K.R. Dietrich, Choice
"The best guide we have to just exactly how the maestro arrived at the threshold of greatness." --John Litweller, Chicago Tribune
"Novel and trenchant. Consistently fulfills one of the critic's most important tasks, that of placing a given piece of music in its larger context....Will be of invaluable assistance to future students of Ellingtonia." --Francis Davis, Times Literary Supplement
"Unique among Ellington biographers, Tucker captures the atmosphere of early twentieth-century Washington and its profound influence on this musical genius....A definitive, invaluable biography." --Jerry Kline, The Mississippi Rag
About the Author
Mark Tucker, associate professor of music at Columbia University, is coauthor of Jazz from the Beginning.
