艾灵顿公爵(1899～1974年)
Ellington, Duke，原名Edward Kennedy Ellington。
美国作曲家、乐队领队、编曲家和钢琴家，美国音乐史上最重要的人物。1924年在故乡华盛顿特区组织乐队，到1927年经常在哈林区（Harlem）的棉花俱乐部（Cotton Club）演出。直至晚年，艾灵顿公爵的乐队一直在爵士乐界享有极高的职业和艺术评价。首先最出名的是那种加活塞弱音器的咆哮声而形成的「丛林」风格，艾灵顿公爵还结合蓝调成为他音乐里恒久的一部分。他按照各乐器演奏者的特殊风格来作曲，许多演奏者都在这个乐团花了大半生的时日，如萨克斯风手霍奇斯（Johnny Hodges）和卡尼（Harry Carney），贝斯手布兰顿（Jimmy Blanton），低音大喇叭手南顿（Tricky Sam Nanton）和布朗（Lawrence Brown），以及小号手迈利（Billy Miley）和威廉斯（Cootie Williams）。斯特雷霍恩（Billy Strayhorn）是艾灵顿公爵的好友和音乐上的最佳拍档。他常作有大型的音乐作品，其中包括舞蹈音乐、流行歌曲、大型音乐会作品、音乐剧歌曲，以及电影配乐。最有名的作品包括〈靛蓝色的心情〉（Mood Indigo）、〈丝绸娃娃〉（Satin Doll）、〈别再奔波了〉（Don't Get Around Much Anymore）和〈复杂的女人〉（Sophisticated Lady）。
English version：
1899～1974年
Ellington, Duke
U.S. pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer, and a dominant figure in American music. Ellington formed his band in 1924 in his native Washington, D.C.; by 1927 it was performing regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Until the end of his life Ellington's band would enjoy the highest professional and artistic reputation in jazz. First known for his distinctive “jungle” sound derived from the use of growling muted brass and sinister harmonies, Ellington's integration of blues elements became an enduring part of his music. He composed with the idiosyncratic sounds of his instrumentalists in mind. Many of his players spent most of their careers with the band, including saxophonists Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney, bassist Jimmy Blanton, trombonists Tricky Sam Nanton and Lawrence Brown, and trumpeters Bubber Miley and Cootie Williams. Billy Strayhorn was Ellington's musical alter ego and frequent collaborator. Ellington composed a massive body of work, including music for dancing, popular songs, large-scale concert works, musical theater, and film scores. His best-known compositions include “Mood Indigo,” “Satin Doll,” “Don't Get Around Much Anymore,” and “Sophisticated Lady.”.