Edward Kennedy Ellington, one of the twentieth century’s finest composers, was born on this day in 1899 in Washington, D.C.

Unfortunately, most of Duke’s compositions don’t lend themselves to square dance music. However, one of my all time favorite records (I use it mainly for patter, but it’s also a great singing call), It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got that Swing) was composed by Duke Ellington. Shakedown‘s version is great, with lots of varied instrumentation.