Black Music Sunday: A month of Duke Ellington tributes comes to an end

As Duke Ellington wrote in his memoir, published the year before he died: “What is music to you? What would you be without music? Music is everything.”

I read his words and wonder: What would music be without Ellington’s gifts to us all? This story wraps up our 2024 Jazz Appreciation Month series, which we kicked off with a tribute to The Duke. We’ll finish the month similarly—April 29 is Ellington’s 125th birthday!

Over the years, I’ve written several stories that feature and celebrate Ellington, and each one reminds me that no single story can even begin to scratch the surface of his massive musical impact—including this one. And so I especially look forward to your comments and contributions this week. 

Let’s get this party going!

”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 200 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.