VOICE 1:
I’m Richard Rael.
VOICE 2:
And I’m Ray Freeman with the VOASpecial English program, People in America. Every week we tell abouta person who was important in the history of the United States.Today, we finish our report about the great jazz musician, DukeEllington.
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VOICE 1:
That song is “Take the ‘A’ Train.” It is like a musical sign thatsays, “You are listening to Duke Ellington and his Orchestra.”
Music fans around the world knowthe song is linked closely to Duke Ellington. Yet they may not knowthat he did not write it.
“Take the ‘A’ Train” was written by a close friend and orchestramember, Billy Strayhorn. Billy and Duke had a very close workingrelationship for almost thirty years. Sometimes, it was difficult totell which man had written a new song for the orchestra. Members ofthe group often argued about who had written it … Duke or BillyStrayhorn.
VOICE 2:
Duke Ellington always wrote music. Music experts say he may havewritten as many as two-thousand different songs. He wrote musicwherever he went. He wrote late at night. He wrote on the train orbus or airplane when the orchestra traveled. Friends say he wrotemusic even in eating places while he waited for his food.
Listen to this Ellington song, played by Russell Procope. Procopeplayed the clarinet in the Ellington orchestra for many years. Inthis song, Procope was able to play his part a different way eachtime. Ellington let individual players create their own parts. Thismeans it is almost impossible today to reproduce the sound of DukeEllington’s orchestra.
The song is called, “Four-Thirty Blues.”
((MUSIC))
VOICE 1:
Duke Ellington tried many new and different ways to play music.For example, he put different instruments together in groups that noone had tried before. He also was the first song writer to use ahuman voice as an instrument.
He wrote music for a singer … but no words. The song is called”Creole Love Call.” The singer here is Adelaide Hall.
((MUSIC))
VOICE 2:
Duke Ellington was one of the most popular musicians in thetwentieth century. Yet, music experts and critics say he was muchmore important as a song writer and orchestra leader than as a pianoplayer. Billy Strayhorn once said, “Duke plays piano. But his realinstrument is the orchestra.”
The orchestra was Duke Ellington’s first love. In later years,when large orchestras were not popular, Duke often paid hismusicians with his own money to keep the group together. To him, theorchestra was everything.
VOICE 1:
Duke Ellington always was looking for ways to Make his orchestrasound better. Like many song writers, he often took old songs,changed them, and made them new again.
Last week, we played a song called “Concerto for Cootie.” Inlater years, a singer named Al Hibbler joined the Ellingtonorchestra. Duke added words to the song. Then he changed its name to”Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me.” Both songs were major hits forthe orchestra. Listen as Al Hibbler sings, “Do Nothing Till You HearFrom Me.”
((MUSIC))
VOICE 2:
Duke Ellington and his orchestra played around the world beforemillions of people. More than eight-hundred musicians played withthe Ellington orchestra at one time or another. After doctors toldDuke that he had lung cancer, he continued to perform. One of hislast concerts was at Westminister Abbey in London. His orchestraperformed religious music.
Duke Ellington was honored by people around the world. FormerPresident Richard Nixon give him the Presidential Medal of Freedom– America’s highest civilian honor. Leaders from around the worldwrote him letters to thank him for his music.
Duke Ellington died on may twenty-fourth, nineteen-seventy-four.
VOICE 1:
If you really want to know the real Duke Ellington, you mustlisten to his music. The music he left the world is truly a greatgift.
We leave you with Duke Ellington and his orchestra playing likethey always did. This recording was made in a room full of peopledancing to his music. The place is McElroy’s Ballroom in the city ofPortland, Oregon.
It is near the end of the evening. You can hear the crowd in thebig room. The people have been dancing and do not want to stop.
Duke Ellington, sitting at the piano, starts another song. It ishis signal to the orchestra. Once again, the Duke EllingtonOrchestra begins to play: “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be.”
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VOICE 2:
This Special English program was written, produced and directedby Paul Thompson. I’m Ray Freeman.
VOICE 1:
And I’m Richard Rael. Join us again next week at this time foranother People in America program on the Voice of America.