Duke "Ellington and Guests (1899-1974) image taken in 1956

• Born in Washington, D.C.
• World-recognized composer and big-band leader
• Neighbor of the Scurlocks on 12th Street, Northwest, in Washington. D.C.
• Photo of “Duke” and Guests in the Ellington home in Washington, D.C., 1956
• Guests include:
• William “Billy” Strayhorn (bow tie) – Ellington’s long-time collaborator/arranger and one of the few openly gay men in the jazz community
• Addison (second from left) and Helen Rand (right)–parents of A. Barry Rand, the second African-American CEO of a Fortune 500 company (Avis)