The Queens of Duke Ellington
Plus, a mini stacked Round Up of February
Hi everyone, I hope all is well! I’ve got an awesome Roundup for you incorporating my love of Black history, celebrating Women’s Month, and food!
Stay tuned towards the end of this as I have some exciting updates towards the bottom.
Get ready to be inspired, chow down on some delicious eats, and learn about the incredible women behind the Big Brass Man!
Some thing as you move through the presentation music is included so be sure to have your headphones in, and there are samples of Duke’s records throughout!
The link is below. Please share and stay tuned below for some exciting updates!
Mindshift tip: Seeking clarity of mind
I’m drowning out the noise by cultivating and curating my literature, media, and sound to feed me the way I need to be fed.
*Ahem, this is part of the reason why I began listening to Duke.
Yes, I still see the same news, rage-baiting clips as we all do. But, in those emotional waves I find hooks of clarity to lean into, allowing me the room to breathe, process, and root myself in something stronger than myself. I would suggest the same to you.
If I’m doing a poor job of summing it up, this IG post may explain it more!
Black Beauty Brands - Fenty, TGIN, and More
I can talk all things black beauty, all day, yet with some new releases this month I’m highlighting, Fenty’s
TGIN Buttercream for bright curls (a personal fave of mine)
Briogeo to keep moisture locked in
And Bey’s CECRED is hitting Ulta stores soon! Christmas came early! I’m personally eyeing her Double Cleanse kit for these hot girl days ahead.
Creative Strategy - Interviewing Tips for 2025
I’ve been interviewing quite a bit as new opportunities are coming my way, and as such, am realizing that while interviewing can be terrifying it makes you a strong speaker.
You learn to be an advocate for yourself. You're forced to find and speak about the good you have to offer, even if it sounds like B.S. in the moment.
Perceiving interviewing as a creative flex of my skills and abilities has made the process go a bit smoother for me, so with that in mind, here’s some tips I want to pass along:
A. Be Yourself. Weird and daunting aside, being you is the best way to navigate the mine of a job field. As absurd as this may sound, gone are the days of pretending to be something you aren’t to land a job. I’ve listened to recruiters, fellow job seekers, and the answer has always been the same, once you're in the interview - just be yourself. The trick is knowing how to present your best self, yet ultimately, being you is the only way to go.
B. Interview for You. This has been revolutionary for me. As scary as the job market is now, there’s a compulsive need to interview for a job just to get it. I want to encourage you to interview for yourself, meaning the job should sell you too on why your the best for the position. If go out for a job for checks and giggle - fine. That is still a choice too. This tip correlates with my last one which is -
C. Ask Questions. I’m sure there’s a stat somewhere that says whoever asks a question in their interview is more likely to be considered. While we won’t take this to a T, I will say having a question prepped can take your interview from zero to hero! YAS!
Even if you feel like there’s no way I’m getting this job, inquiring like ‘what would you say is best to succeed in this role or what’s the best part of this position for you?’ just shows your interested. If you have the mentality of interviewing for you…then these questions may flow natrually.
A note, don’t force this. If it feels natural to ask a question do, and if not, then trust the process.
With that being said - here are some cool opportunities to apply those tips too:
Creative Opportunities:
To my Journo fellows, USA Today is hiring 5 reporters for the First Amendment Reporting Fellowship covering issues across the U.S.
Any new writers in the chat? Roxane Gay Books are looking to publish nonfiction literary and memoir essays from emerging writers!
For my fellow archivist, Craft Archive Fellowship is awarding grants to support archival research on underrepresented craft histories.
Now to the Main Event…
The Brass Man Himself
and his Dames of Majesty…
I WELCOME YOU TO DUKE’S
Edward Kennedy Ellington was his name. Duke was his occupation. Music was his mistress.
Born on April 29th, 1899, in Washington D.C. Duke Ellington had talent and music in his DNA!
His parents were piano players attuning his ear to music at an early age. Duke would become one of the greatest musicians and originators of the Big Band Jazz sound. While his accolades are many, I’m also shedding light on the women who played a pivotal part in his success.
Starting with the best of them, his mother Daisy Kennedy!
Daisy Kennedy Ellington
Daisy was born on 1879 in Washington D.C. to two previously enslaved parents. Presumably, Daisy hails from the Exodus of 1879 which was a large migration of African Americans seeking refuge from the South.
According to Duke’s son, Mercer, the men in Daisy’s life felt her influence so strong each male would carry the Kennedy name. Daisy’s instrument of choice was piano and crafted an environment that would begin Duke in his music career, starting with his first piano teacher.
Marietta Clinkscales
Not much is known about Ms. Marietta Clinkscales other than she taught Duke piano at the young age of 7. Unfortunately, piano would take a backseat to baseball who was a leading love in his life. However, Marietta’s tenacity and commitment to Duke planted the seed that would make Ellington a world name.
Besides his wife and high school sweetheart, Edna Thompson, a woman who was by his side through it all would be his sister, Ruth.
Ruth Ellington Boatwright
As the only sister to Duke Ellington and born 16 years after him, Ruth Ellington was a tour de force! After completing her high school years in Manhattan, Ruth graduated with a biology degree from Columbia and moved to Paris with The Josephine Baker to study languages.
When she returned to the States Ruth began managing Duke’s affairs. She served as president and owner of his catalog and estate for several years after his passing. Unable to escape music for so long, Ruth hosted her own radio show in the 50’s, dedicated to black voices, jazz, and showcasing talent that wouldn’t have been heard.
Now, that’s something to write home about.
All of this brings us home to the jazz trio that brought Duke’s sound to light!
Betty Roche, Ivie Anderson, and Ella Fitzgerald
Each of these women deserves an award for serving in their autonomy and singing loudly when black female voices often went unheard and were unwanted.
Betty Roche - A Voice Defined
The best vocalist Duke ever had.
Betty Roche was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and raised by her grandparents in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She and Duke would join forces right at the heart of the AFM Recording Ban. While this prohibited Betty from professionally recording any of Duke’s records, her interpretation of Duke’s ‘Take the A Train’ is still considered “to be one of the best vocalists Ellington ever had.”
Betty continued to work with prestigious labels after leaving Duke’s band, stamping her mark on the genre for years to come.
While Betty happened at the right time for Duke’s band, her predecessor Ivie Anderson originated the iconic ‘scat’ sound of the Golden Age of Jazz.
Ivie Anderson - The Voice of Ellington
Wednesday night she went into a dance routine that would have slayed you.
Ivie Anderson, was born in 1905 in California. Her prolific career spanned decades. She traveled the world singing with Cuban bands, preformed in Vaudeville, the Cotton Club in New York, and in Australia. Ivie was the total package and truly one of the most iconic sounds of Duke’s band.
“Ivie was, however, the first girl Duke ever hired for the express purpose of singing with his band. She almost was the last: she stayed twelve years.”
Due to her asthma, she retired from the whirlwind era of Jazz yet her legacy continues to be felt today.
While both of these women were incredible to the rise of Duke’s sound, its fair to say that Ella Fitzgerald wrote the book.
Ella Fitzgerald - First Lady of Song
“Forgive me if I don’t have all the words. Maybe I can sing it and you’ll understand.”
Ella Fitzgerald is truly a monument. While many would bring their spin to the Jazz sound, Ella invented it. Using her voice as a form of activism, Ella stood in the face of racial prejudice, collaborated with many heavyweights in the music industry, and went into business for herself. Ella would tour multiple cities (due in part to her bestie, Marilyn) and make appearances on top shows such as “The Bing Crosby Show”, “The Frank Sinatra Show”, and “The Ed Sullivan Show”.
Later in her life, Ella was an advocate for child welfare and disadvantaged youth. She was also awarded the National Medal of Arts by Ronald Reagan in 1987. By the end of her life, her catalog spanned 2,000 songs, over 10 Grammy awards, and winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992.
I view these three women and more as the pillars on which the Duke Ellington house stands. It truly has been a joy discovering each of their talents, and as you listen to their sound, I hope it transports you just the same.
I hope you enjoyed this Roundup! Please comment and share if you’ve listened to Duke and any of these fabulous ladies before!
Exciting Updates!
March has been a super busy month for me! A. My birthday is tomorrow, March 18! and in celebration, I’ve been researching and writing for a podcast show highlighting some of the baddest to ever do it!
A Woman’s Work will kick off this month where I will share the triumphs, trials, and accomplishments of Coretta Scott King, First Lady Rosalyn Carter, and civil worker extraordinaire, Elizabeth McDuffie.
I’ve been working with some talented researchers on this project and I can’t wait to share it with you all! As we get closer to launch, I’ll share updates here! WOOHOO!