Spoiler : Happy birthday to Duke Ellington, born on April 29, 1899.

Spoiler : Ellington, Duke (Edward Kennedy Ellington) Born in Washington, D.C. 4/29/1899; died 5/24/1974 of lung cancer and pneu- monia in New York City. Married to Edna Thompson (?-?). Ellington began worked as a soda-jerk in Washington where he was nicknamed "The Duke" for the stiff starched uniform that he wore; worked as an illustrator; 1918 organized a band called "The Wildcats," or "Duke's Serenaders," later renamed the group "The Washingtonians." Moved to Manhattan, New York in 1923, appeared at Harlem, New York's Cotton Club. Regular performer on CBS-Radio (1927-1932). Toured Europe with his band in 1933. Screen debut in Hit Parade (1937). Composer of over 900 tunes including Satin Doll; Sophisticated Lady; Don't Get Around Much Any More; Take The A Train; Caravan; Mood Indigo. Provided music for Broadway plays Jump For Joy (1941); Beggar's Holiday (1946). Featured with his band on radio programs for Mutual (1943); A Date With The Duke for ABC (1945-1946). Guest star on television programs including Cavalcade Of Bands for DuMont (1950- 1951); Kreisler Bandstand for ABC (1951); America's Greatest Bands for CBS (1955); Bell Telephone Hour for NBC (1959-1968); Happy Days for CBS (1970). Composed the music for The Asphalt Jungle on ABC-TV (1961). One of the first ten song-writers to be placed in the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame when it first opened in 1971.