Duke Ellington

Born: 1899-04-29

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based in New York City from the mid-1920s and gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem.


Placeholder

Anatomy of a Murder

as Pie Eye (uncredited)
Released: 1959-07-01

Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a...

Movie page

Cabin in the Sky

as Duke Ellington (uncredited)
Released: 1943-03-24

When compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson dies in a drunken fight, he awakens in purgatory,...

Movie page

The Green Book: Guide to Freedom

as Self - Musician (archive footage)
Released: 2019-02-25

In 1936, Victor H. Green (1892-1960) published The Negro Motorist Green Book, a book that was...

Movie page

Piano Blues

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2003-10-04

Director — and piano player — Clint Eastwood explores his life-long passion for piano blues,...

Movie page

Murder at the Vanities

as Duke Ellington
Released: 1934-05-18

Shortly before the curtain goes up the first time at the latest performance of Earl Carroll's...

Movie page

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2024-09-11

In 1960, United Nations: the Global South ignites a political earthquake, musicians Abbey...

Movie page

Black and Tan

as Duke Ellington
Released: 1929-12-08

Duke Ellington plays hot jazz in a fictional story that finds him down on his luck; he tries in...

Movie page

The Jazz Ambassadors

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2018-05-04

The Cold War and Civil Rights collide in this remarkable story of music, diplomacy and race....

Movie page

Check and Double Check

as Orchestra Leader
Released: 1930-10-02

Amos and Andy trying to make a go of their "open-air" taxi business while they get caught up in...

Movie page

The Apollo

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2019-04-24

The history of New York City's Apollo Theater in Harlem is given the full treatment.

Movie page

Jam Session

as Self - Piano
Released: 1942-01-01

Duke Ellington and Orchestra perform 'C Jam Blues'.

Movie page

Jazz Evolution

as Self - Piano
Released: 2008-08-12

Movie page

The Hit Parade

as Duke Ellington
Released: 1937-04-26

Agent Pete Garland is fired by society singer Monica Barrett after he got her a new radio...

Movie page

It's Black Entertainment

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-02-08

A star-studded tribute (from the creators of That's Entertainment) to the contributions of...

Movie page

Reveille with Beverly

as Duke - Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (uncredited)
Released: 1943-02-04

Beverly Ross, the switchboard operator at a local radio station, jumps at the chance to be the...

Movie page

Belle of the Nineties

as Piano Player
Released: 1934-09-21

Cabaret entertainer Ruby Carter shifts her operations to New Orleans and becomes exceedingly...

Movie page

Birth of the Blues

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1941-11-07

Jeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He...

Movie page

Many Happy Returns

as Piano Player (uncredited)
Released: 1934-06-08

Gracie Allen assumes the "management" of the shop owned by her papa Horatio Allen, turning it...

Movie page

The Story Of The Blues

as Self
Released: 2004-06-30

The story of The Blues traces the four main traditions of blues music: Form Blues, Blues, Urban...

Movie page

Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life

as Self
Released: 1935-09-12

A rising nineteen-year-old singer by the name of Billie Holiday made her screen debut in this...

Movie page

A Bundle of Blues

as Self
Released: 1933-01-31

Duke Ellington and his orchestra play two jazz compositions plus 'Stormy Weather' (sung by Ivy...

Movie page

The Strolling '20s

as Self
Released: 1966-02-04

Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier travel down memory lane to see what life was like back in the...

Movie page

Duke Ellington: The Big Band Feeling

as Self
Released: 2005-04-19

This 1952 recording includes 2 performances of Duke and his Orchestra, one on Jan. 7, 1952 and...

Movie page

Improvisation

as Self
Released: 2004-01-01

Improvisational jazz performance filmed in 1950 by Gjon Mili plus Duke Ellington Trio filmed in...

Movie page

On the Road with Duke Ellington

as Self
Released: 1974-12-31

Documentary portrait of the legendary jazz bandleader. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in...

Movie page

Charlie Parker: Bird Songs

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2022-01-09

In 1955, on his report, a medical examiner wrote in the box: age, “about 53 years”. Charlie...

Movie page

Black Shadows on a Silver Screen

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1975-04-19

Ossie Davis narrates a history of "race films," films made before 1950 which catered to a...

Movie page

Bli-Blip

as Himself
Released: 1942-01-01

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra perform "Bli-Blip" with Marie Bryant and Paul White

Movie page

Duke Ellington in Isfahan

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2021-09-02

This short documentary by writer and archivist Ehsan Khoshbakht tells the story of Duke...

Movie page

Alice Babs - Swing It!

as Himself (archive footage)
Released: 2007-01-01

This documentary film features plenty of archival material, also showing Alice Babs from her...

Movie page

Duke Ellington: Live At The Tivoli Gardens

as Self
Released: 2003-11-11

Call him the Duke of Denmark, as this is the second superb Ellington performance recorded in...

Movie page

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1929-1943

as Self
Released: 2000-01-01

Joined by the likes of saxophonist Ben Webster and trumpeter Cootie Williams, jazz giant Duke...

Movie page

Jazz Ball

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1956-01-01

A made-for-TV musical revue, compiled from soundies and film and TV performances by jazz greats...

Movie page

Duke Ellington & Sarah Vaughan Live At The Berlin Philharmonic Hall 1989

as Self
Released: 2014-01-13

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra plus Sarah Vaughan & Her Trio live in Berlin. Featuring: Duke...

Movie page

The Harlem Renaissance

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2004-01-01

Chronicling the Harlem Renaissance era, this retrospective documentary tracks the origins of the...

Movie page

I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2024-09-12

An aspiring singer is tasked with promoting the music catalogue of his great-grandfather, the...

Movie page

The Intimate Duke Ellington

as Self
Released: 2003-06-17

Duke Ellington's fifty year career was full of accomplishments as a highly original pianist,...

Movie page

Jazz Icons: Duke Ellington Live in '58

as Self - Piano
Released: 2007-05-21

Jazz Icons: Duke Ellington features the earliest-known filmed full-length concert by one of the...

Movie page

Hot Chocolate

as Self (uncredited)
Released: 1941-02-20

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers at their best along with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performing for...

Movie page

The Lou Rawls Show with Duke Ellington

as Self
Released: 1991-01-01

With a unique style that encompassed soul, jazz and pop, Lou Rawls established himself as one of...

Movie page

Billie Holiday: The Ultimate Collection

as Himself
Released: 2005-10-25

This remarkable DVD includes rare TV and film performances, an especially rare radio interview...

Movie page

Jazz Legends in Their Own Words

as Self
Released: 2014-05-24

A journey into the BBC archives unearthing glorious performances and candid interviews from the...

Movie page

The Dick Cavett Show

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1968-06-06

The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various...

TV Show page

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self
First aired: 1961-12-11

The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...

TV Show page

What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

TV Show page

Le Grand Échiquier

as Self
First aired: 1972-01-12

TV Show page

The Merv Griffin Show

as Self
First aired: 1962-10-01

The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran...

TV Show page

The Steve Allen Show

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1956-06-24

TV Show page

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self - Pianist
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

TV Show page

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

TV Show page

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self - Band Leader
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

TV Show page

Bambi Awards

as Self
First aired: 1948-01-01

The Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented...

TV Show page

Discorama

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 1959-02-04

TV Show page

Jazz

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2001-01-09

Jazz is a ten part series that explores the evolution – and the genius – of America’s greatest...

TV Show page