Duke Ellington - Level 2 |"Duke" Ellington, an African-American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. His parents James Edward and Daisy Ellington were both pianists. By the age of seven, he was taking piano lessons. Reading Lessons, Piano Lessons, Music Lessons, Jazz Composers, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Harlem Renaissance, Sad Day, Level 3