About jack jones Expertise i have as a long time enthusiast read extensively about his life and career i have a huge record and cd collection ranging from the mid 1920s up until his final concert some months before his death in 1974.
i also have a large library of books and magazines concerning the duke.
Experience as a long time fan over 50 yrs i have a good working knowledge of the man and his music.also a good backup reference library of my own.
Expert: jack jones Date: 2/23/2005 Subject: Duke Questions
Question I've got some questions here goes?
Did the composer every marry if so when and where ?What was the name of the person he married?What work did the spouse do?Was the spouses family important for any reasons?How long were they married for and was there more than one spouse?How many children have and what is there names?were any of the children famous?If they were what for?Thanks for the help!
Answer In 1917 Duke met a Miss Edna Thompson she was a schoolmate and lived in the same area as he did. They married on July 2 1918 and their son Mercer was born on March 11 1919, there was another child conceived in 1919 but I believe this child died in infancy.It is generally believed that by the late 1920s the marriage was over although they never divorced and remained on reasonably good terms. Mercer Ellington worked as a DJ, record producer, and management in the Ellington organisation and was a reasonably competent trumpet player, he played in the trumpet section of the later editions of the orchestra and after the death of his father took over fronting the Ellington orchestra which he did until his own death. That is about as much information as I can give you.
