WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Jazz legend Duke Ellington is the first African-
American to appear on an American coin, the U.S. Mint says in
introducing the latest in its line of state-themed quarters.
The District of Columbia coin honoring Duke Ellington will be
introduced Tuesday at the Smithsonian.
The District of Columbia commemorative quarter showing Ellington
playing the piano will be introduced by U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy at
a news conference Tuesday at the Smithsonian's National Museum of
American History.
Ellington won the honor by a vote of D.C. residents, beating out
abolitionist Frederick Douglass and astronomer Benjamin Banneker.
Also on the coin is the phrase "justice for all." The mint rejected
the first inscription choice of D.C. voters, which was "taxation
without representation," in protest of the District's lack of voting
representation in Congress.
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards and was a
pioneer in jazz, according to his official Web site.
Ellington was born in the District and composed more than 3,000
songs, including the notable "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got
That Swing," a song that helped usher in the swing era of jazz.
Ellington performed with other famous artists, including John
Coltrane, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, and he traveled around
the world with his orchestras.
He died in 1974 at age 75.
American to appear on an American coin, the U.S. Mint says in
introducing the latest in its line of state-themed quarters.
The District of Columbia coin honoring Duke Ellington will be
introduced Tuesday at the Smithsonian.
The District of Columbia commemorative quarter showing Ellington
playing the piano will be introduced by U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy at
a news conference Tuesday at the Smithsonian's National Museum of
American History.
Ellington won the honor by a vote of D.C. residents, beating out
abolitionist Frederick Douglass and astronomer Benjamin Banneker.
Also on the coin is the phrase "justice for all." The mint rejected
the first inscription choice of D.C. voters, which was "taxation
without representation," in protest of the District's lack of voting
representation in Congress.
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards and was a
pioneer in jazz, according to his official Web site.
Ellington was born in the District and composed more than 3,000
songs, including the notable "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got
That Swing," a song that helped usher in the swing era of jazz.
Ellington performed with other famous artists, including John
Coltrane, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, and he traveled around
the world with his orchestras.
He died in 1974 at age 75.
No comments:
Post a Comment