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Ten-Part Radio Series Celebrates the Music of Duke Ellington

Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Murray, KY- Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974) wrote and performed music that still gives joy to millions of people and influences musical composition to this day. In his fifty year career, he played over 20,000 performances all over the globe and defined a sound that some call the most truly American music ever, including the popular tune “It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing.” 

To honor Ellington and his fascinating career, Dr. Todd Hill and Mark Welch present a ten-part series, Diggin’ Duke, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on WKMS-FM beginning January 27. Hill and Welch worked as a team to “dream up the series.” Dr. Hill hosts the show; he’s the Director of Jazz Studies with the Department of Music at Murray State University and a host of WKMS’s Café Jazz. Welch is currently Director of Community Relations and Alumni Affairs at MSU and he served as producer.

Following Episode One on January 27 at 10 p.m. you’ll hear a special “bonus” hour of Duke content that the producers couldn't fit into the initial airing of this series in 2010. Each subsequent Tuesday of the run of the series the next episode airs at 9 p.m. and there’s a repeat of the previous week’s episode at 10 p.m.

This spring Hill is also teaching a Duke Ellington Special Topics course at MSU as an Honors College/Music Department shared subject. The series complements the course, but will also appeal to listeners with even a minimal knowledge of music.

The titles of each show in the series include:

  1. Early Masterpieces and The Cotton Club
  2. From “The Jungle Band” to “Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra”
  3. Duke Ellington into the Swing Era and the Blanton/Webster Band
  4. The Blanton/Webster Band 1939-1941
  5. Duke Live in 1940 – The Fargo Recordings
  6. The War Years and Black, Brown and Beige
  7. Post War Years: The Columbia and Capitol Recordings
  8. Rebirth at Newport ‘56
  9. Revitalization of Career and Creativity
  10. The Late Suites and Sacred Concerts

WKMS broadcasts a continuous, comprehensive mix of news and music, including its 24 hour all classical channel. The station serves nearly 30,000 listeners in western Kentucky, southernmost Illinois and northwestern Tennessee. Stations include 91.3 WKMS-FM and WKMS HD-1 and All-Music HD-2, Murray; 90.9 WKMD and WKMD HD-1 and HD-2, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; and All-Classical 92.5 Paducah, 88.9 Murray and 105.1 Madisonville. WKMS also streams both its two channels at wkms.org, a full service website offering playlists and regional news. For more call 1-800-599-4737.
Contact: Jenni Todd, Membership Coordinator (270-809-4748 or jtodd14@murraystate.edu

Jenni holds a degree in Music Education from Murray State University and a Masters degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University's College of Music. She's equipped with knowledge and enthusiasm for fundraising and the arts. She also serves as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and on the Murray Independent School District Foundation for Excellence Board of Directors.
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