Duke Ellington Monument Unveiled in Central Park Tatum, Elinor

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Document 1 of 1 Duke Ellington monument unveiled in Central Park Tatum, Elinor. New York Amsterdam News [New York, N.Y] 05 July 1997: 14:3.

Abstract A monument to jazz legend Duke Ellington was unveiled at Duke Ellington Circle on the northeast corner of Central Park on Jul 1, 1997. The jet black, 25-ft-high memorial was sculpted by Robert Graham and depicts Ellington, standing by his piano. The statue is a gift from the Duke Ellington Memorial Fund, founded by Bobby Short.

Full Text Duke Ellington monument unveiled in Central Park The four corners of Central Park are places of honor. On the southwest gateway to the park are monuments and a statue of Christopher Columbus. On the southeast corner is a statue of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Now, on the northeast corner of the park, one of the greatest jazz legends of all time and a Harlem hero, the great Duke Ellington, stands firmly with his piano and his nine muses to guard the entrance to the park and to Harlem from now until eternity. The monument to Duke Ellington was over 18 years in the making, and finally, the dream of Bobby Short, the founder of the Duke Ellington Memorial Fund, came to its fruition with the unveiling ceremony at Duke Ellington Circle on 110th Street and Fifth Avenue on Tuesday. Hundreds of fans, family, friends and dignitaries came out to celebrate the life of Duke Ellington as he took his place of honor at the corner of Central Park. The jet black, 25-foot-high memorial sculpted by Robert Graham stands high in the sky, with Ellington standing by his piano, supported by three pillars of three muses each. The muses represent Ellington's inspiration. Present at the unveiling were the three mayors of New York who helped bring the memorial to fruition: Edward I. Koch, David N. Dinkins and Rudolph Giuliani. In attendance were Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of the Duke, Wynton Marsalis and Bobby Short, among others. In his opening remarks Short reminisced about his first meeting with Ellington at the tender age of 12. Koch talked about the fact that there were nine muses with the statue and joked that feminists, not the good feminists, but the radical feminists, were outraged at the monument. He countered that by saying, "Duke Ellington loved women and women loved Duke Ellington." The muses were his inspiration. The memorial is a gift to New York City from the foundation and Duke Ellington was a gift to the world. His music and this monument will forever live in the hearts and minds of all those who hear the sounds and see the strength in the monument that stands atop the park. Photo (Duke Ellington Sculpture)

Indexing (details)

Subjects: Art, Jazz, Music, Sculpture, Memorials & monuments, Sculpture

Locations: New York, NY, Central Park-New York City NY

People: Ellington, Duke, Ellington, Duke (Edward Kennedy Ellington) (1899-1974), Graham, Robert, Short, Bobby

Ethnicity: African American/Caribbean/African

Title: Duke Ellington monument unveiled in Central Park

Authors: Tatum, Elinor

Publication title: New York Amsterdam News

Pages: 14:3

Number of pages: 0

Publication year: 1997

Publication Date: Jul 5, 1997

Year: 1997

Publisher: New York Amsterdam News

Place of Publication: New York, N.Y.

Country of publication: United States

Journal Subjects: African American/Caribbean/African

ISSN: 00287121

Source type: Newspapers

Language of Publication: English

Document Type: News

Document Features: Photo

Accession Number: SFLNSNYAN0997ANLS099000020, 04707975

ProQuest Document ID: 390441761

Document URL: http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/ docview/390441761?accountid=10226

Last Updated: 2010-06-25

Database: 3 databases - ProQuest Central - Black Newspapers - Ethnic NewsWatch

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