"The two-volume Duke's Diary provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of the greatest figures in American music, the incomparable Edward Kennedy Duke" Ellington. Using contemporary photographs, newspaper reports, advertisements, reviews, and narrative, both volumes chronicle Duke's life, performances, and recording sessions. Volume I briefly sets out the first 21 years of Duke's life, and then, as his career begins to take off, coverage of his life and performing engagements becomes more in-depth, going from month by month to almost a day by day diary, from his opening at Harlem's famous Cotton Club in December 1927 to his orchestra's extended European tour in 1950. Dozens and dozens of rare photos, including illustrations of posters from many of his venues, reprints of news articles about him and his band, even his first listing in the phone book for his band "The Duke's Serenaders" (1918), enliven every page. Volume II begins with Duke's return from his band's European tour in June of 1950 and concludes with his death in 1974. The Ellington Orchestra's complete itinerary, including all known club, concert, theatre, television, film, and jam session appearances are included, as well as a selected list of Duke's recordings although this volume is not intended as a discography. Vail's unique concept, which pairs photos and news articles with brief diary-style entries, has resulted in a work of enduring interest and charm for every fan of this immensely talented musician. The visual impact created by the stunning array of photos is powerful; readers will feel as though they have been accompanying the great man on his journey through life. Over 800 illustrations."

Duke's Diary, Part I: The Life of Duke Ellington, 1927-1950

Biographies & Memoirs

Vail, Ken

Arts & Literature

Scarecrow Press

The two-volume Duke's Diary provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of the greatest figures in American music, the incomparable Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. Using contemporary photographs, newspaper reports, advertisements, reviews, and narrative, both volumes chronicle Duke's life, performances, and recording sessions. Volume II begins with Duke's return from his band's European tour in June of 1950 and concludes with his death in 1974. The Ellington Orchestra's complete itinerary, including all known club, concert, theatre, television, film, and jam session appearances are included, as well as a selected list of Duke's recordings―although this volume is not intended as a discography. Vail's unique concept, which pairs photos and news articles with brief diary-style entries, has resulted in a work of enduring interest and charm for every fan of this immensely talented musician. The visual impact created by the stunning array of photos is powerful; readers will feel as though they have been accompanying the great man on his journey through life.

Duke's Diary, Part 2: The Life of Duke Ellington, 1950-1974

The Jazz Itineraries series, a new format based on Ken Vail's successful Jazz Diaries, charts the careers of famous jazz musicians, listing club and concert appearances with details of recording sessions and movie appearances. Copiously illustrated with contemporary photographs, newspaper extracts, record and performance reviews, ads and posters, the series provides fascinating insight into the lives of the greatest jazz musicians of our times. No.1 in the series, Dizzy Gillespie: The Bebop Years 1937?1952, chronicles Dizzy's life from his early struggles, through the birth of bebop, the demise of his first big band, up to his departure for France in 1952.

Dizzy Gillespie: The Bebop Years 1937-1952 (Ken Vail's Jazz Itineraries 1)

The Jazz Itineraries series, a new format based on Ken Vail's successful Jazz Diaries, charts the careers of famous jazz musicians, listing club and concert appearances with details of recording sessions and movie appearances. Copiously illustrated with contemporary photographs, newspaper extracts, record and performance reviews, ads and posters, the series provides fascinating insight into the lives of the greatest jazz musicians of our times.No.2 in the series, co-authored by Ron Fritts, Ella Fitzgerald: The Chick Webb Years & Beyond 1935?1948, chronicles Ella's life from her discovery and development by Chick Webb, the shock of Webb's early death, her years as a bandleader, her success as a solo singer, marriage to Ray Brown and her first tour of England.

Ella Fitzgerald: The Chick Webb Years and Beyond 1935-1948 (Ken Vail's Jazz Itineraries 2)

Fritts, Ron

Humor & Entertainment

The Jazz Itineraries series, a new format based on Ken Vail's successful Jazz Diaries, charts the careers of famous jazz musicians, listing club and concert appearances with details of recording sessions and movie appearances. Copiously illustrated with contemporary photographs, newspaper extracts, record and performance reviews, ads and posters, the series provides fascinating insight into the lives of the greatest jazz musicians of our times.No.3 in the series, Count Basie: Swingin' The Blues 1936?1950, chronicles Basie's life from the Kansas City years, discovery by John Hammond, triumph in New York with the floating swing of the All-American rhythm section and tenor saxist Lester Young, through to the eventual demise of the swingingest of big bands in January 1950.

Count Basie: Swingin' the Blues 1936-1950 (Ken Vail's Jazz Itineraries 3)

15 year-old Bob Inman was given a radio for Christmas in 1935. From then until August 1938, he kept a meticulous log of all the radio shows he listened to and chronicled the hundreds of jazz shows he witnessed. Along with his collection of pictures and autographs, these logs eventually became seven large scrapbooks detailing the world of swing music in New York. Bob saw Benny Goodman at the Paramount Theater, Louis Armstrong at Loews State, Duke Ellington at Harlem's Apollo Theatre, Chick Webb at the Savoy Ballroom, Count Basie at Roseland, and hundreds of other prominent musicians and venues. Inman's descriptions of these trips form a social history of life during one of Manhattan's most vibrant and charming periods. Ken Vail has applied his talent as a graphic artist to enhance the presentation of these radio logs and turn them into a fascinating and useful reference source, which includes: · listings of commercial studio recordings for the period · autographs of hundreds of musicians · publicity photographs and original snapshots by Bob Inman and friends Together with a preface by Dan Morgenstern, this scrapbook will interest students and historians alike.

Swing Era Scrapbook: The Teenage Diaries and Radio Logs of Bob Inman, 1936-1938 (Volume 49) (Studies in Jazz, 49)

Arts & Photography

Music

Chronological look at the history of jazz.

Jazz Milestones: A Pictorial Chronicle of Jazz 1900-90

Music Sales Corp

Month-by-month chromology of singer's life.

Lady Day's Diary

Plume

This month-by-month chronology offers fascinating insight into the life of this most charismatic of jazz musicians.

Bird's Diary

Castle Communications

Fascinating insight into the life and times of the most intense and innovative trumpet player in jazz.

Miles' Diary: The Life of Miles Davis 1947-1961

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Books by Vail, Ken