Duke Ellington #1377

Caption from poster__     " Life has two rules: Number 1, Never   quit! 2, Always remember rule number 1,."     Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974), (see Jazz royalty), was an American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader. One of the most influential figures in jazz history, Ellington was one of America's most significant twentieth century composers. He led his own orchestra for fifty years and composed more than 2000 songs as well as numerous longer compositions. While most of his compositions are categorized as jazz, Ellington was reluctant to describe his work as anything more specific than "American music". The word jazz was too narrow for Ellington, whose greatest compliment was to describe others who had impressed him as "beyond category". Some of the biggest names in jazz passed through the ranks of Duke Ellington's orchestra, among them Johnny Hodges, Bubber Miley, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney