Duke Ellington was born April 29, 1899. Raised by his very own talented parents, Duke began to learn to learn piano. By age 15, Duke Ellington wrote his first composition called ” Soda Fountain Rag” in inspiration of his job as a Soda jerk. Duke was greatly rewarded a stunning scholarship to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, yet wanted to continue his job as a soda jerk and played professionally at age seventeen. The nineteen year old Duke and his girlfriend Edna Thompson became married and conceived one child. Duke rose to fame to fame when composed his masterpieces “cotton tail” “Ko-Ko”. Also, songs like “It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing,” “Sophisticated Lady,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” and “Solitude”. Ellington most favorite jazz song was “Take the A Train” referring to a sub way in New York City, where duke composed his original masterpiece.It was Ellington’s sense of musical drama that made him stand out in a crowd. His blend of melodies, rhythms and subtle sonic movements gave his listeners a fresh new experience. Ellington’s autobiography, called “Music is my Mistress”, was published in 1973. Ellington earned 12 Grammy awards from 1959 to 2000. In 1959 Duke was awarded the Springarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).