February's composer of the month is Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as Duke Ellington! Ellington was born in 1899 and died in 1974, and is thought of by many as America's GREATEST composer, bandleader, and recording artist. During his 50 year career, Ellington composed over 3000 pieces of music! He was awarded, by President Richard Nixon, the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his 70th birthday. Funny enough, Duke hated his piano lessons when he was young, saying they were "boring" and quit! Thank goodness he didn't give up music, because piano became his forte! In 2009, Duke Ellington became the FIRST African American to be featured on a US coin, which is also pretty cool, since he was one of America's first African American composers. Among his 3000 compositions, some of his best known are It Don't Mean a Thing, Satin Doll, Take the "A" Train, and Mood Indigo. Watch this video of his Big Band "The Cotton Club Orchestra" play It Don't Mean a Thing" with him at the lead on the piano!
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