A giant in American music, Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on Jan. 20, 1972. Duke Ellington was composer, pianist and jazz orchestra leader.
Duke was with his 20-piece band, which accompanied him at CCP along with the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Redentor Romero. There were two shows at the CCP, a matinee at 3 p.m. and a gala at 8:30 p.m. The popular and symphonic compositions of Duke were performed.
The Manila engagement was arranged by the US State Department under the cultural exchange program. He just completed a concert tour of Russia.
Although a pivotal figure in the history of jazz, Duke Ellington embraced the so-called ‘beyond category’… part of the more general American music rather than only the jazz genre.
Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington in the ’40s
Duke was honored by Presidents Harry Truman and Richard Nixon as well as Queen Elizabeth II. He was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Award for Music in 1994. He died in New York at the age of 75 on May 24, 1974.
In the words of President Nixon, ‘In the royalty of American music, no man swings higher of stands taller the Duke.’ Nixon presented him with the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award.— RKC