by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)
It’s Music Monday again! This week’s playlist features the 50-year career of one artist. No covers or tributes, just Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington.
He was a giant of 20th century music. He was arguably the most significant band leader in American music from 1923 until his death a half century later.
From the Cotton Club to Europe, Asia, and Africa, he featured artists like saxophonist Johnny Hodges and his 30-year collaborator, composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, and lead the best-known orchestral unit in the history of jazz.
Though Ellington himself embraced the phrase “beyond category,: here’s nearly 6 hours of the music by one the greatest of all time. Enjoy!
And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.
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I’m grateful for GBN putting out great oldies and goodies FREE. I was embarrassed to see ‘LIFETIME’ making lots of money off black artists lifetime work.
Stopping the blaxploitation!