Throughout the Harlem Renaissance, many individuals inspired and helped shape modern culture in countless ways. People such as Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, Aaron Douglas, and Alain Locke all did amazing things for American culture in their own respected ways, but for me and many others Duke Ellington was the most influential of them all! From his contributions to the evolution of music and how instruments were played, to staying true to his art and defending his choices onstage. He is truly one of if not the most influential people to come out of the Harlem Renaissance and here's why!
Duke was always very talented from a young age and played in bands up until he moved to Washington. Duke’s first musical breakthrough came when he was with the band The Washingtonians where “the group became known for its ‘jungle music’, characterized by muted, growling trumpets” (Otfinoski). This style of music and shared with the dance theater that was largely popular in that time period made the band extremely popular. It wasn’t until the 1930s till what was now the Duke Ellington Band created some of their more famous works such as “It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing” and “Mood Indigo.” Ellington was so influential and successful that “[his band] not only preceded the ‘big bands’ but would ultimately outlast most of them” (Davis Jr.). The Duke Ellington Band would go on to play up until the early 1970s when in that time period Duke would succumb to cancer. He not only performed and loved music in his final years, he also defended his work literally to the grave which brings me to my next point.
Duke believed in freedom of expression especially musically. Despite all the criticism he always defended all of the decisions he made musically and became “one of the nation’s most influential spokespersons and ambassadors” (Davis Jr.). Duke was always one to believe in his own work and did not need to satisfy anyone else but himself. He is even on record saying that “[he] only [wants] what any other American wants, and that is freedom of expression” (Weinstein). The freedom of expression he believed in allowed him to create some of his best music and stay consistent with the quality of his work. Even after he was called a living jazz legend “[he] continued to break new musical ground, turning out some of the finest and most sublime music of his career” (Otfinoski). With the continued support of his fellow musicians and supporters, he continued to produce and perform music at a smaller scale up until his death in 1974 when he unfortunately lost his battle with cancer at the age of 75.
Duke Ellington was not only one of the most influential people of his time period but of all time. His music and philosophy are still being used today from samples of his music being used in songs such as “Diablo” by Mac Miller and “Call Me” by Fabolous. To have his own memorial art school in his hometown of Washington D.C. established following his death and is the first Black American to be featured alone on a U.S. coin. It is safe to say that Duke Ellington’s influence goes far beyond what I have mentioned and that he will forever go down as one of the greats to come out of the Harlem Renaissance.