Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. He earned the nickname "Duke" as a teenager because he always dressed so elegantly. Duke started learning piano at age seven. By his twenties, he was leading his own band in New York City. Duke Ellington did not just play music. He composed over 1,000 original songs during his career. His music blended jazz, blues, gospel, and classical styles in ways no one had heard before. One of his most famous pieces, "Take the A Train," became the theme song of his orchestra. For nearly three decades, Duke's orchestra performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem. It was one of the most famous music venues in America. His concerts attracted audiences of all backgrounds and helped bring jazz music into the mainstream. Duke also wrote longer works called suites. These pieces told stories through music, proving jazz could be as sophisticated as any classical symphony. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and continued performing until shortly before his death in 1974. Duke Ellington showed that jazz was not just entertainment but a serious American art form.