National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
recipient
Ellington, Duke
ID Number
1989.0369.043
accession number
1989.0369
catalog number
1989.0369.043
Description
This trophy was presented to Duke Ellington by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), in 1970. It is a silver globe with a flip top, interior lined with green velvet, mounted on a rock and black painted wood base, with and engraved metal plate and metal piano. The plate is engraved:
NAACP TRIBUTE TO DUKE ELLINGTON AMERICA’S FOREMOST MUSICIAN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK FEBRUARY 23, 1970
This commemorative trophy was for a gala event, “Sold on Soul: A Royal Tribute to Duke Ellington,” presented by the NAACP and New York State Conference of Branches, in Madison Square Garden, on February 23, 1970. The gala was hosted by Sammy Davis, Jr. and featured performances by Louis Armstrong, Leslie Uggams, Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, Richie Havens, Stevie Wonder, Modern Jazz Quartet, and Duke Ellington and his Band.