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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Chick Webb

For Students 9th - 10th
Features a biographical sketch of Chick Webb, black American jazz drummer who led one of the dominant big bands of the swing era.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Cootie Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of Cootie Williams, an African-American trumpeter whose mastery of mutes and expressive effects made him one of the most distinctive jazz musicians.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Dicky Wells

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical sketch of Dicky Wells, leading black American jazz trombonist noted, especially in the big band era, for his melodic creativity and expressive techniques.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Art Tatum

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Art Tatum, a blind, self-taught American pianist, considered one of the greatest technical virtuosos in jazz.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Bennie Moten

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bennie Moten, a U.S. pianist, one of the earliest known organizers of bands in the Midwest in the emergent years of jazz.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Ben Webster

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Ben Webster, an American jazz musician, considered one of the most distinctive of his generation, noted for the beauty of his tenor saxophone tone and for his melodic inventiveness.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Billy Eckstine

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Billy Eckstine, an American singer and bandleader who achieved great personal success while fostering the careers of a number of younger jazz musicians.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Bud Powell

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bud Powell, an American jazz pianist who emerged in the mid-1940s as one of the first pianists to play lines originally conceived by bebop horn players.
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Hank Jones

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Hank Jones, an American jazz musician born July/Aug. 31, 1918, Vicksburg, Miss. .
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Lionel Hampton

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Lionel Hampton, an American jazz musician and bandleader, known for the rhythmic vitality of his playing and his showmanship as a performer. Best known for his work on the vibraphone,...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Billie Holiday Was Born

For Students 9th - 10th
Billie Holiday is one of the most well-known blues singers of all time. Visit this Library of Congress site for more about her early years and some great photographs.
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Website
Other

The Duke Ellington Society

For Students 9th - 10th
The Duke Ellington Society maintains this wealth of information on Duke Ellington and his works including news, information on the singers who worked with him, audio clips, and links to other Ellington sites.
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Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Johnny Mathis

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of singer Johnny Mathis, an inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Cole Porter

For Students 9th - 10th
Cole Porter is discussed in this brief biography. It touches on the highlights of his life and career.
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Website
Other

Famous Singers

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical profiles of famous singers in major musical genres. Includes photo and links to snippets of their songs.
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Songwriters Hall of Fame

Songwriters Hall of Fame: Duke Ellington

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about Duke Ellington.
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Article
Other

Down Beat Magazine: Ben Webster

For Students 9th - 10th
Ben Webster was one of the first important saxophone players to come out of Duke Ellington's orchestra. Read a biography, view pictures and see a discography of this 1974 Down Beat Hall of Fame inductee.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The Gershwin Legacy: George and Ira Gershwin

For Students 9th - 10th
With their famous music and lyrics, the Library of Congress presents an in depth exhibit of primary source materials from the Gershwin brothers.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Ornette Coleman

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief audio discussion of Elaine de Kooning's charcoal drawing of saxophonist, Ornette Coleman. Interesting comments by Wendy Wicks Reaves, curator at the National Portrait Gallery.
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Billy Joel

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you will find much information about one of "rock and roll's most talented and accomplished songwriters". He's had 13 Top Ten hits including 'Piano Man', 'It's Still Rock and Roll to Me', and 'We didn't Start the Fire' while also...
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Mary Lou Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Mary Lou Williams, a jazz pianist who performed with and composed for many of the great jazz artists of the 1940s and '50s. This site, rich in detail and breadth...
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: James P. Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features James P. Johnson, a highly influential black American jazz pianist who also wrote popular songs and composed classical works. A founder of the stride piano idiom, he was a crucial figure...
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Erroll Garner

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Erroll Garner, a U.S. pianist and composer, one of the most virtuosic and popular pianists in jazz. Garner was influenced by Fats Waller and was entirely self-taught. He substituted for...
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Wayne Shorter

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Wayne Shorter, an African-American musician and composer, a major jazz saxophonist, among the most influential hard-bop and modal musicians and a pioneer of jazz-rock fusion music.