Duke Ellington is universally recognized as one of the towering figures of 20th-century music, both a brilliant composer and one of the preeminent musicians in jazz history. From early pieces such as emEast St. Louis Toodle-Oem, emBlack and Tan Fantasyem, emIt Don't Mean a Thingem, and emMood Indigoem, to his more complex works such as emReminiscing in Tempoem and emBlack, Brown and Beigeem, to his later suites and sacred concerts, he left an indelible mark on the musical world. Now, in emThe Duke Ellington Readerem, Mark Tucker offers the first historical anthology of writings about this major African-American musician. The volume includes over a hundred selections--interviews, critical essays, reviews, memoirs, and over a dozen writings by Ellington himself--with generous introductions and annotations for each selection provided by the editor. The result is a unique sourcebook that illuminates Ellington's work and reveals the profound impact his music has made on listeners over the y