Duke Ellington has become the first black American to be prominently featured on a United States coin in circulation with the release of a quarter honoring the District of Columbia. Ellington, who composed more than 3,000 songs, was born and raised in Washington. He and other black music legends, like Ella Fitzgerald, helped establish the city’s U Street as an entertainment corridor.
Source: NYTIMES via A.P.
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Posted in: Jazz
Posted on February 25, 2009 by narmer