... of jazz. Growing up, Duke was rather privileged compared to his African American counterparts. His father was a butler for a white upper class family. This in itself, allowed Duke to be exposed to some of the things that life had to offer, yet never would have seen if he had not lived with the Cuthbert family, for whom his father worked. As a butler, J.E., Duke's father had a certain aura or presence about him that naturally made him more reserved and refined than your average working class black man. "Duke was influenced by his strong identification with his father. J.E. was an elegant man, an excellent ballroom dancer, and a connoisseur of wines." 2 There was a striking difference between the life that many of the young black people of the time led, and that of Ellington. Not only was Ellington raised in a refined and proper manner, ...

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