Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials

American History Museum

Never On Sunday

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Finding aid

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Object Details

Summary

The collection documents the activities of the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the leadership of both Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington and his son Mercer Ellington. Materials include music manuscripts, business records, lyrics, scripts, and other writings, magazine articles, newspaper clippings and photographs.

Scope and Contents

The Edward and Gaye Ellington collection contains the records of the businesses and material left by their father, Mercer Kennedy Ellington. Ruth Ellington, Duke's sister, and Mercer managed similar aspects of Duke's estate and music. Ruth Ellington managed Tempo Records while Mercer managed Fantasy Records. This collection indicates that there was a distinct line of demarcation between Fantasy Records and Tempo Records. If there were issues of copyright or contractual agreements, the collection contains paperwork covering the matter. There are, however, some overlaps in material particularly in the music manuscripts, photographs and personal papers relating to the Ellington family. The collection is divided into eight series and includes music manuscripts, programs, awards, business records, photographs, slides, correspondence, contracts, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, press releases, catalogues lyrics, scripts and handwritten notes.

sova.nmah.ac.0704

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8273834af-dbfd-475b-bf70-8c23d2a5d0c3

Creator

Ellington, Edward

Richardson, Deborra A.

Ellington, Gaye

Names

Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

Provenance

Collection donated by Edward K. and Gaye Ellington on October 12, 1999

Creator

Ellington, Edward

Richardson, Deborra A.

Ellington, Gaye

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Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials

Biographical / Historical

Edward and Gaye Ellington are the children of the late Mercer Kennedy Ellington. The son of jazz great Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington, Mercer continued the musical family legacy as a trumpet player, pianist and composer. A musician from a young age, Mercer led his own bands, as well as his father's Duke Ellington Orchestra. Edward, who played the guitar, often traveled with his grandfather and father on tour. After Duke's passing, Mercer inherited leadership responsibilities of the orchestra. Edward then became a member of the band and continued to work with his father on the road. Mercer managed and controlled Mercer Records and Fantasy Records, and eventually managed Ellington Productions, Incorporated and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. In 2003, Edward and Gaye founded the Duke Ellington Legacy Band. Shortly after the success of the new band, Edward and Gaye created the Duke Ellington Legacy Big Band, an eighteen piece ensemble dedicated to the Ellington sound. The Legacy also produces educational curricula and develops programming and lecture series for the public.

Extent

9.5 Cubic feet (32 boxes)

Date

1899-1981

Archival Repository

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier

NMAH.AC.0704

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Citation

Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into eight series. Series 1: Music, Scripts and Compositional Materials, 1928-1974, undated Subseries 1.2: Published Song Books, 1944, undated Subseries 1.3: Oversize Scores, undated Subseries 1.4: Untitled Music Manuscripts, undated Subseries 1.5: Notes, Scripts, and Compositional Materials, 1963-1967, undated Series 2: Personal Papers, 1899-1980, undated Series 3: Photographs, 1933-1974, undated Series 4: Business Records, 1959-1977, undated Series 5: Correspondence, 1959-1975, undated Series 6: Performance Materials, 1957-1978, undated Series 7: Publicity, 1934-1981, undated Series 8: Awards and Recognition, 1962-1979

Processing Information

Collection processed by Annie Kuebler, 200-2004 and Rebekah Keel, 2015. Details have been reported and incorporated for Series 1: Music, Scripts and Compositional Materials based on the notes of Michael Kilpatrick, 2021.

Rights

Collection items available for reproduction, but copyright held by the donors. The Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.