ELLINGTON, Duke (Edward Kennedy). Document Signed
("Duke Ellington") in blue fountain pen ink, on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
pictorial letterhead, Los Angeles, California, April 25, 1960. Notarized at
lower margin of page 2.
Ellington agrees to compose music for the television
series, "The Asphalt Jungle.
The show, which appeared in ABC in the summer of 1961,
bore little resemblance to the 1950 film, and in fact is only
remembered today for Ellington's brash them song.
Duke Ellington (1899-1974), born Edward Kennedy Ellington,
April 29, 1899, Washington, DC; died May 24, 1974, New
York City, New York; noted African American bandleader,
pianist, composer, and outstanding jazz personality; wrote over
5,000 original works, including "Take the A Train"; "Moon
Indigo"; "Sophisticated Lady"; winner of the 1959 Spingran;
featured in a six films and some theatrical productions.
