Duke Ellington - (Great Black Performers) by Andrea Pinkney (Paperback)

About the Book

This swinging, vibrant picture book about jazz composer Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as "Duke," is a tribute to the legend that continues to live on and influence musicians everywhere.

Book Synopsis

A joyful biography of jazz pioneer Duke Ellington, recognized with a Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award Honor, brought to life by a bestselling husband and wife duo.

Born in 1899, Duke Ellington was the forerunner in the evolution of jazz. By the time he was nineteen he was playing at parties, pool halls, and cabarets; and then, in 1927, he entertained at the hottest place around, The Cotton Club in Harlem. But the defining moment of his career came when Duke and his orchestra gave a groundbreaking performance at Carnegie Hall, when they first performed his suite Black, Brown, and Beige, a tribute to the history of African American people. To this day, Duke, the "King of the Keys," is beloved by jazz fans old and new.

This is a stunning introduction to Duke Ellington--a legend who continues to live on and influence musicians everywhere.

Don't miss the other Great Black Performers biographies:
Alvin Ailey
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa

Review Quotes

"A cool and vibrant tour of Duke Ellington's musical career . . . this loving tribute temptingly evokes the sound and spirit of a jazz pioneer."

--Kirkus

"This book swings. Don't miss it."

--School Library Journal

"The husband-and-wife team captures the spirit of an individual, an era and a musical style."--Publishers Weekly

"The joy in Ellington's music, and the joy his musicians felt in playing it, is apparent on every page."--Booklist

About the Author

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 50 books for young readers, among them The Red Pencil and A Poem for Peter, as well as several collaborations with her husband Brian Pinkney, including Sit -In and Hand in Hand, which received the Coretta Scott King Book Award.

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children, including two Caldecott Honor books, and he has written and illustrated several of his own books. Brian has received the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration and three Coretta Scott King Book Award Honor medals.

The Pinkneys have been named among the "25 Most Influential People in Our Children's Lives" by Children's Health magazine. They live in Brooklyn, New York.