Sir Duke

Sir Duke is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder. It was originally released on his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. It has since been re-released on three of his albums: Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium, Natural Wonder (rerecorded version) and At the Close of a Century. The track topped the US Pop Singles and Black Singles charts, and reached #2 in the UK, his biggest ever hit there at the time.

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The song was written about Duke Ellington, an artist who influenced Wonder's style. Ellington died in 1974 and the song was a kind of tribute from Wonder to the recent deceased Ellington. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald

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The artists, apart from Stevie Wonder, who perform on the original version were Raymond Pounds (drums), Nathan Watts (bass), Mike Sembello (lead guitar), Ben Bridges (rhythm guitar), Hank Redd (alto saxophone), Raymond Maldonado (trumpet), Trevor Laurence (tenor saxophone), and Steve Madaio (trumpet).

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Stevie Wonder: Stevie Wonder (real name: Steveland Judkins — he later changed his last name to Morris, which was his mother's maiden name), born on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan is an American singer, songwriter, producer, musician, humanitarian and social activist....

1976: 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar)....

Songs in the Key of Life: Songs in the Key of Life is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976 (see 1976 in music). A highly ambitious and experimental double LP, Songs in the Key of Life became one of the best-selling albums of his career....

Sir Duke related Images and Photos (experimental)

Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852) Duke of Wellington after an Original by Sir Thomas Lawrence	Duke Bradley	Duke Ellington	The Duke
Duke University	Duke Kahanamoku	Duke Kahanamoku	Iron Duke
Duke 'D' DH Hat (Blue)	Patty Duke	Sir John Holt	Duke Fiki Football