The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA), founded and headed by Duke’s granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, will present its annual free birthday tribute to the Maestro on Sunday, April 28 at the Duke Ellington statue on Fifth Avenue at 110th Street. The festivities begin at 1 PM and end at approximately 3 PM. Duke’s actual birthday is April 29, but the concert is always held on the Sunday closest to his birth day. The Duke was born in 1899, making this fête his 120th birthday tribute.
The program will feature the Duke Ellington Center Big Band led by Frank Owens, vocal stylists Antoinette Montague and Marion Cowings, and performers Tony Waag, Sharon K. Janda, Mark Mindek, Max McGuire, Love Angel, Princess Rivera, Ty Stephens, AC Lincoln, Max Pollak, Tap City Youth Ensemble and more.
DECFA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to developing Duke Ellington’s staggering number of musical compositions (over 3,000) into multi-disciplinary theatrical presentations and educational programs, to be performed in many different types of venues all over the globe. DECFA also tries to keep an accurate record of all things Ellington for the benefit of future generations.
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