Duke Ellington Orchestra

The 40s were a time of big band, swing, and music to heal the hearts of the men and women serving in World War II. Remember the scene from "A Soldier's Story" with Big Mary belting out the blues? There were the sounds coming from the USO clubs for black soldiers (the first opening in Hattiesburg, MS in 1942) - Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstine, Ella … [Read more...] about Monday Afternoon Thread: The Music of World War II