50 Years since the death of Duke Ellington
American jazz composer and bandleader Duke Ellington, died in New York, 50 years ago on May 24, 1974. He was 75.
We look back at his career as captured by Associated Press photographers.
Duke Ellington, left, selects one of the ties he brought with him, at the London Palladium in England, where he is performing on June 21, 1948. To help him choose is his barber Gerardo Hernandez. (AP Photo/Dennis Lee Royle)
Broadway Column by Duke Ellington, AP Newsfeatures, Aug. 26, 1948. (AP Corporate Archives)
Duke Ellington, one of America’s best known band leaders and composers, waving his hat in hand, is greeted by a host of fans who cheered and played his favorite tunes as he left the Central Station in Milan, Italy, on May 5, 1950. (AP Photo/Jim Pringle)
American band leader Duke Ellington snaps a picture of the photographers crowding around him after his first German performance in Frankfurt on May 27, 1950, with singer Kay Davis. Ellington is using a tiny Minox camera. (AP Photo/Hanns J. Jaeger)
Jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong and pianist Duke Ellington rehearse Leonard Feather's song "Long, Long Journey" at the RCA Victor recording studio in New York City on Jan. 12, 1946. (AP Photo/Bob Wands)
Duke Ellington (left) and Louis Armstrong in dressing room at New York's Madison Square Garden, Feb. 23, 1970. The evening is called "Salute to Duke Ellington". (AP Photo/Ed Ford)
Orson Welles (right) is congratulated by Duke Ellington at the opening of the former's play, "The Blessed and the Damned," at the Theatre Edouard VII in Paris on June 20, 1950. (AP Photo/Jean Aubry)
Duke Ellington (right) presents a manuscript for one of his musical compositions to fellow pianist, President Harry Truman, at the White House in Washington, Sept. 29, 1950. (AP Photo/John Rous)
Band leader Duke Ellington arrives in New York on Nov. 3, 1959, aboard the luxury liner Queen Elizabeth. (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano)
Band leader Duke Ellington, right, teamed up with music loving Rev. Norman O’Connor, Catholic chaplain at Boston University, Feb. 26, 1957, to give students in the university’s music appreciation class an intimate look into the history of jazz. (AP Photo/J. Walter Green)
World known American jazzman Duke Ellington, guest of the American Cultural Center of Paris at a cocktail party given in his honor, Oct. 27, 1958. Duke Ellington and his orchestra have been giving several jazz recitals in the French capital. (AP Photo/Jacques Marqueton)
Duke Ellington arrived at the Paris Orly airfield, Nov. 21, 1960, coming from New York. (AP Photo/Max Micol)
Louis Armstrong, left, American trumpeter and Duke Ellington, right, another jazz maker, get together during a music party on board the Seine Bateau-Mouche 'La Patache' in Paris, France around Dec. 21, 1960. They were celebrating the award of the 1960 Django Reinhardt Prize to French jazzman Rene Urtreger, unseen. The man in the center is not identified. (AP Photo/Pierre Godot)
Jazz Pianist Duke Ellington lends an ear to an una-fon, a series of instruments activated by compressed air, and declared it somewhat out of tune on July 2, 1966 in Milwaukee, Wis., during Old Milwaukee Days festivities. (AP Photo/Paul Shane)
Surrounded by hot vapors, Duke Ellington beats out a shrieking version of “Mood Indigo” on a steam calliope during Old Milwaukee Days festivities, July 1, 1966. (AP Photo/Paul Shane)
Band leader Duke Ellington and his big band during his appearance on the stage at “Bal Pare”, in Munich, Jan. 21, 1967 during the carnival season. Ellington received enthusiastic applause while on the stages. The band is touring Germany in the company of singer Ella Fitzgerald, unseen. (AP Photo/Klaus Frings)
Duke Ellington holds two Grammy awards he received as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences chose the best recordings of 1967 in New York, Feb. 29, 1968. He won one Grammy in the large group Jazz Category with “Far East Suite”, and he and the late Billy Strayhorn won another for the same music as a Special Merit award from the academy’s trustees. (AP Photo/John Lent)
Famed Jazz Pianist Duke Ellington playing with his band at the Rainbow Grill in New York’s RCA building, Aug. 29, 1967. He is at the piano during the late dinner hour between 9 and 10 p.m. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)
Duke Ellington, left, pictured as he celebrated his 70th birthday at the Alcazar in Paris, France around Nov. 21, 1969. On this occasion Maurice Chevalier, right, presented him with one of his boater hats. (AP Photo/Michel Lipchitz)
AP story by Frances Lewine from Washington D.C. bureau archives, April 29, 1969. (AP Corporate Archives) (EDS NOTE - Typo on Dave Brubeck)
Duke Ellington listens as President Nixon plays "Happy Birthday" on the East Room grand piano, during Ellington's 70th birthday party, April 29, 1969. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges)
President Nixon and Duke Ellington break into laughter on the stage in the East Room of the White House, April 29, 1969, during Ellington's 70th birthday party. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges)
The sound of the big band came alive as leader Duke Ellington opened up the Newport Jazz Festival’s 18th annual session at Newport on July 3, 1971. (AP Photo)
Duke Ellington, dressed in a cap and gown, waits for graduation exercises to begin at Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus in New York on May 16, 1973. The University awarded him the Honorary Doctorate of Music degree. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)
Duke Ellington’s casket lies in the center of St. John the Divine Episcopal Cathedral during funeral services in New York City on May 27, 1974. The Duke died at age 75 on May 24. (AP Photo)
Duke Ellington with his orchestra playing at the White House in Washington on March 27, 1968, at a function for President Lyndon Johnson and Liberian President William V.S. Tubman and wife Antoinette, all unseen. (AP Photo)
Text and photo curation by Katherine O'Mara