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Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899 – 1974) was one of the most prominent musical figures of the 20th century. His music was often defined as “jazz,” but he sought to create a body of music “beyond category.” In fact, he preferred to be called simply an “American” composer. The breadth of Ellington’s output was astounding. In addition to writing hundreds of jazz standards, including “Mood Indigo” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” he served as the leader of America’s most stellar big band for nearly a half century and composed numerous film scores, musicals and large-scale orchestrated works. Even more importantly, he was one of the most prominent Black public figures in American history. Born and raised in Washington, DC, he was acutely aware of American politics. All his life, he served as a leader committed to civil rights, equality and America’s role in the world. Although nearly fifty years have passed since Ellington’s death, his music still permeates our society, not just in the concert hall, but also via film, advertising and the art of sampling. What is it about Ellington and his music that has made his legacy so enduring? Finding the answer(s) to this question is the central goal of this course. Using the critically acclaimed book by Harvey Cohen, Duke Ellington’s America as our guide, we will explore 20th-century American history through the lens of Ellington’s music. Written assignments will include creating annotated playlists related to various facets of Ellington’s career and a final research paper/long-form essay that relates to material discussed in class.