Duke Ellington was a prolific composer, pianist, and bandleader who elevated jazz to a form of 'American Classical Music.' Over a career spanning 50 years, he wrote more than 1,000 compositions, many of which became jazz standards like 'It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).' Ellington used his orchestra as a single instrument, writing specifically for the unique sounds and personalities of his band members. In 1943, he premiered 'Black, Brown and Beige' at Carnegie Hall, a sprawling tone poem depicting the history of Black Americans. He was a master of the short-form jazz song as well as extended orchestral suites. Ellington’s elegance, charisma, and innovation earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a posthumous Pulitzer Prize, cementing his status as one of the greatest composers in history.