Duke Ellington had loads in widespread with Depend Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald. However maybe one of many extra uncommon connections between them occurred in Could 1977, after they have been all eulogised on America’s No.1 pop single, “Sir Duke” by Stevie Marvel.
The track, launched because the follow-up to “I Wish” and the second single from the Motown large’s very good Songs In The Key Of Life, was initially a tribute to Ellington. The good pianist and bandleader had died, aged 75, in Could 1974, simply as Stevie was about to launch his Fulfillingness’ First Finale album. He instantly needed to jot down about his admiration for “Sir Duke” as an affect on his music.
‘So soon they are forgotten’
In June 1977, Marvel advised a Billboard-sponsored symposium at UCLA (the College of California): “I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation.”
The ensuing track celebrated Ellington amongst “some of music’s pioneers” and brilliantly mixed Marvel’s soulful signature with a scintillating, advanced horn chart that evoked the massive band period he was singing about. Trumpets on the observe have been performed by Raymond Maldonado and Steve Madaio, alto saxophone by Hank Redd, and tenor sax by Trevor Lawrence.
A sixth pop No.1
On Could 21, 1977, “Sir Duke” began a three-week run atop the Billboard Sizzling 100, changing Leo Sayer’s “When I Need You.” One other British act, the Climax Blues Band, moved as much as No.3 with “Couldn’t Get It Right.” It was Stevie’s sixth pop No.1, solely 4 months after “I Wish” had turn into the fifth.
Take heed to one of the best of Stevie Marvel on Apple Music and Spotify.
Per week later, “Sir Duke” moved to the highest of the R&B chart for every week, so for seven days, Stevie was each the pop and soul champion. On the R&B chart, his operating complete was now 13 No.1s.
Purchase or stream “Sir Duke” on Songs In The Key Of Life.
