His was the greatest of talents, concealed beneath a carefree exterior. Duke Ellington possessed musical genius, which he claimed to exert for the glory of God and on behalf of his fellow African Americans. Readers will get to know the many sides of the legendary composer. The sunshiny smile displayed at concert time could sometimes be replaced by a frightful temper behind the scenes. Genius often comes at a price, but Duke Ellington''s work is paramount. It includes 1,800 musical compositions and a virtually uncountable number of concert appearances. Readers will agree that his contributions belong to the ages.