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Duke Ellington Quotes

Composer

Duke Ellington was an outstanding American composer and pianist, renowned for his unique jazz style and rich musical compositions. His musical career spanned half a century and had a profound impact on the development of jazz.

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All Music Jazz Jazz Music Ifs Musical Kind Art Inspirational Music Is Play Musician Problem Two Deadline Jazz Musician Mines Needs People Trying Way

Famous Duke Ellington Quotes

“There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind ... the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it's successful; if it doesn't it has failed.”

Ifs Should Kind Two Sound Results Successful Judged Yardsticks

Book:The Duke Ellington Reader

Source: The Duke Ellington Reader

“There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.”

Kind Two Music Jazz Jazz Music Jazz Musician

Book:The Duke Ellington Reader

Source: The Duke Ellington Reader

“If anybody was Mr. Jazz it was Louis Armstrong. He was the epitome of jazz and always will be. He is what I call an American standard, an American original. ... I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues. ... I don't need time, I need a deadline. ...There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind. ... Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to no one.”

Ifs Needs Kind Two Play Energy Music Is Standards Originals Jazz Songwriting Mistress Deadline Time Of Need Armstrong Fiddle Epitome

Author:Duke Ellington

“I don’t believe in categories of any kind, and when you speak of problems between blacks and whites in the U.S.A. you are referring to categories again.”

Believe Kind Problem Speak Don't Believe Categories Referring

Book:Music is my mistress

Source: Music is my mistress

“There are two kinds of worries - those you can do something about and those you can't. Don't spend any time on the latter.”

Inspirational Kind Two Can Do Worry Latter Can Do Something

Author:Duke Ellington

“By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.”

Men Want Kind Mother Music Musician Daughter Jazz Associates Jazz Music Your Daughter Jazz Musician Jazz And Blues Free Jazz

Author:Duke Ellington

“Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn't want me to be too famous too young.”

Want Kind Young Music Fate Fame Jazz Musical Be Kind Want Me

Book:The Duke Ellington Reader

Source: The Duke Ellington Reader

About the Author

Born: April 29, 1899
Died: May 24, 1974
Known for: Composer
Quotes: 83

Books & Sources

Music is my mistressRelated source material

The Duke Ellington ReaderRelated source material

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