Duke Ellington Circle Named in His Honor New York Beacon [New York, N.Y] 24 May 1995: 33

Document 1 of 1 In The Village Of Harlem: Duke Ellington Circle Named In His Honor New York Beacon [New York, N.Y] 24 May 1995: 33.

Abstract The site chosen for the Duke Ellington Memorial (at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street in Harlem) was recently officially named "Duke Ellington Circle," honoring one of American's musical icons. The naming of the site is a prelude to the anticipated September 1995 installation of the Duke Ellington memorial -- a 25-foot high cast bronze monument designed by renowned sculptor Robert Graham. "Duke Ellington's creativity and pioneering spirit helped shape an important an vital period in the life of this city. His contributions to the development and appreciation of America's own art form--jazz--are unmeasurable," stated [Peter Vallone]. "The current and future plans for Duke Ellington Circle are one way to allow New Yorkers an opportunity to enjoy this special tribute honoring Ellington's international status as one of this century's greatest musical icons," said Vallone. The Duke Ellington Memorial Fund was established by [Bobby Short] in 1979. "Ellington was a role model and hero of mine as a child," said Bobby Short, President of the Fund. "I hope that this Memorial will serve as an example to the young people growing up in New York today." To date, the funds has raised nearly $1 million from donors around the world to establish a permanent monument to Ellington.

Full Text In The Village Of Harlem: Duke Ellington Circle Named In His Honor. The site chosen for the Duke Ellington Memorial (at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street in Harlem) was recently officially named "Duke Ellington Circle," honoring one of American's musical icons. The naming of the site is a prelude to the anticipated September 1995 installation of the Duke Ellington memorial -- a 25-foot high cast bronze monument designed by renowned sculptor Robert Graham. Leading city official and private citizens instrumental in securing site approval and necessary funds for the monument, and for the renaming, were present at the unveiling. Among them were; former Mayor of New York City David N. Dinkins, City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Entertainer Bobby Short (President of the Duke Ellington Memorial Fund), New York State Council on the Arts Chairwoman Kitty Carlisle Hart, along with members of the Ellington family. "Duke Ellington's creativity and pioneering spirit helped shape an important an vital period in the life of this city. His contributions to the development and appreciation of America's own art form--jazz--are unmeasurable," stated Peter Vallone. "The current and future plans for Duke Ellington Circle are one way to allow New Yorkers an opportunity to enjoy this special tribute honoring Ellington's international status as one of this century's greatest musical icons," said Vallone. On December 17th, 1993, then Mayor David N. Dinkins stood at the gateway to Harlem and officially announced and redesign and reconstruction of Milbank Frawley Circle, and the installation of the first New York City monument to an African American musician. The naming of Duke Ellington Circle and unveiling of the new signs -- which are provided by the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation as part of their Central Park Scenic Landmark street sign program -- are the most recent in a series of events to honor one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century. "Although Duke Ellington regarded the world as his audience, he made his home in our city. It is therefore fitting that we in New York should raise a monument to this travelling maestro of rhythm, as testament that he, and his music, continue to fill our imaginations," said Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Chairperson of the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation. A highlight of the ceremony included a performance by Nabate Isles, a student at the Harlem School of the Arts. Isles is a recent recipient of a Duke Ellington Scholarship, established in 1991 and awarded each year to gifted music students from the Harlem School of the Arts. Mercedes Ellington, the Duke's granddaughter commended, "My grandfather would have been proud and honored by this public recognition. He had a passionate belief in the talented youth of this city and would have been pleased to see young people participating in this special occasion." Duke Ellington Circle -- now a group of nondescript traffic islands at the northeast corner entrance of Central Park -- is in the process of being transformed by the New York City Department of Transportation and its consultants, Urbitran Associates and Mark K. Morrison Associates. When completed in early 1996, two semi-circular terraced spaces will face each other across Fifth Avenue to form a small amphitheater. Its centerpiece will be the Duke Ellington Memorial, a life-size depiction of the composer standing at a grand piano on a circular platform supported by three 10-feet columns. A gift to the City of New York from the Duke Ellington Memorial Fund, the monument will be installed and dedicated in the fall of 1995. The improvements to Duke Ellington Circle are a 5.9 million dollar capital project and include replacement of antiquated water mains, underground utilities and drainage structures, reconstruction of the sidewalks and roadway as well as upgrades of traffic signals and street lighting. The Duke Ellington Memorial Fund was established by Bobby Short in 1979. "Ellington was a role model and hero of mine as a child," said Bobby Short, President of the Fund. "I hope that this Memorial will serve as an example to the young people growing up in New York today." To date, the funds has raised nearly $1 million from donors around the world to establish a permanent monument to Ellington. Contributors to the Memorial include hundreds of individuals from around the world -- among them, musicians and entertainers such as Jessye Norman, Tony Bennett, Gregory Hines, Lena Horne and Bill Cosby -- as well as foundations and corporations. Photo (Members of Duke Ellington's family displaying street sign)

Indexing (details)

Subjects: Area planning & development, Community development, Entertainment, Jazz, Landscaping, Music, Radio, Urban planning

Locations: Harlem, NY

People: Ellington, Duke, Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Barbaralee, Short, Bobby

Ethnicity: African American/Caribbean/African

Title: In The Village Of Harlem: Duke Ellington Circle Named In His Honor

Publication title: New York Beacon

Volume: 2

Issue: 67

Pages: 33

Number of pages: 0

Publication year: 1995

Publication Date: May 24, 1995

Year: 1995

Publisher: New York Beacon

Place of Publication: New York, N.Y.

Country of publication: United States

Journal Subjects: African American/Caribbean/African

Source type: Newspapers

Language of Publication: English

Document Type: News

Document Features: Photo

Accession Number: SFLNSNYBC0795NYDM060000112

ProQuest Document ID: 368027816

Document URL: http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/ docview/368027816?accountid=10226

Last Updated: 2010-06-23

Database: Ethnic NewsWatch

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