“At Columbia University’s New College, where I was studying engineering, my instructors constantly inquired whether I had written any songs. I was persuaded to sit down and play several of my compositions for them. Next they demanded why I wasn’t studying music formally. Their insistence convinced me that I ought to take a try.”

Mercer Ellington, Negro Digest, May 1951

Mercer Kennedy Ellington

Mercer Ellington can be seen briefly as part of one of the dancing couples in this 1941 video

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

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Pigeons and Peppers (CD: “The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)

Recorded 7 October 1937, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Juan Tizol – valve trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Otto Hardwick – alto sax; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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The Girl in my Dreams (CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)

Recorded 28 December 1940, Chicago

Wallace Jones, Ray Nance –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombones; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Herb Jeffries – vocal.

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Blue Serge / John Hardy’s Wife (CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)

Recorded 15 February 1941, Los Angeles

Wallace Jones, Ray Nance –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol -trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto  Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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Jumpin’ Punkins / Moon Mist (LP: “The Hollywood Bowl Concert” Unique Jazz UJ-001)

Recorded 31 August 1947 Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Shelton Hemphill, Dud Bascomb, Francis Williams, Harold Baker – trumpets; Ray Nance – trumpet, violin; Lawrence Brown, Claude Jones, Tyree Glenn – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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Brown Suede (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2)

Recorded 29 September 1941, Los Angeles

Ray Nance – trumpet; Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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A Slip of the Lip (CD: “World Broadcasting Series, Volume 1” Circle ‎ CCD-101)

Recorded 9 November 1943, New York City

Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan – trumpet; Ray Nance – trumpet, vocal; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Skippy Williams, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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He Should’a flip’d when he flop’d (CD: “Cootie Williams and his Orchestra 1945-1946” Classics 981)

Recorded 29 January 1946, New York City

Cootie Williams, Bob Merrill, Ermit V. Perry, George Treadwell, Billy Ford, Gene Redd – trumpet; Ed Burke, Bob Horton, Edward “Jack Raggs” Johnson – trombone; Rupert Cole, John Jackson– alto sax; Everett Gaines, Sam Taylor – tenor sax; Bob Ashton – baritone sax; Arnold Jarvis – piano; Sam “Christopher” Allen – guitar; Norman Keenan – bass; Butch Ballard – drums, Johnny Mercer – vocal.

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— Our closing music—-

It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.