Duke Ellington

In a time when music was going through a transformation from a ragtime style to a jazz-blues fusion, Duke Ellington was there to add his own style. There may have been many more decorated composers and musicians, but Duke Ellington revolutionized the way music was written, and in the eyes of many, has earned the title of being the 'great American Composer.'(Williams, 51) Brought up in a modest environment, Ellington never finished high school but instead went on the road to begin his legendary jazz career.
Growing up in acquaintance with such great jazz musicians as Fats Waller and Jame…