1996 Death Mercer Kennedy Ellington, trumpeter bandleader/composer, dies at 76 1985 Event Atlantis ferried to Kennedy Space Center via Ellington AFB, Texas 1982 Event Challenger flies to Kennedy Space Center via Ellington AFB, Texas 1974 Death Duke Ellington, blues singer, dies of cancer at 75 1967 Event Tennessee Governor Ellington repeals "Monkey Law," upheld in 1925 Scopes Trial 1965 Event Duke Ellington's "Golden Brown and the Green Apple," premieres 1959 Event "Duke" Ellington wins Springarn Medal for his musical achievements 1946 Birthday Buddy Miles, born in Omaha, Nebraska, George Allen Miles, Jr., drummer, member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys, played with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon 1941 Event Duke Ellington 1st records "Take the A Train" 1934 Event "Cocktails For Two," by Duke Ellington hits #1 1933 Event 1st Dutch live radio concert: Duke Ellington 1927 Event Duke Ellington opens at Cotton Club in Harlem 1919 Birthday Mercer Ellington, son of Duke Ellington and bandleader 1907 Birthday Lawrence Brown, U.S. trombonist, Duke Ellington Orchestra 1899 Birthday Duke Ellington, Washington D.C., Edward Kennedy, bandleader, Take A Train
