This Day in Black History: May 24, 1974 Composer and musician Duke Ellington died at age 74.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington", the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and several other honors, died on May 24, 1974, in New York City. His last words were, "Music is how I live, why I live and how I will be remembered."

Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, to musician parents. He composed his first piece of music, "Soda Fountain Rag," at age 15, based on his job as a soda jerk. At age 17, he passed up an art scholarship to study at the Pratt Institute in New York to become a professional musician.

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