According to the stuff I found on the web, John Hammond was responsible for bringing jazz to the public counciousness much sooner than it would have been possible, by fighting for the black musicians' place in history. See this excerpt from an article on www.allaboutjazz.com below

http://www.allaboutjazz.c...899_72.htm

"A Postage Stamp of History. In the late ‘30’s, John Hammond planned a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York, presenting African-American music from blues stem to jazz stern. Hammond was unable to procure funding from any source (including the NAACP) due to the political and cultural winds of the period. He finally received a grants from the politically left organizations New Masses and The Theater Arts Committee. This iconoclastic support From Spirituals To Swing, became a reality in 1938 and again in 1939, displaying blues, gospel and jazz musics on a major label for the consuming public."

Also, in the "History of Jazz Timeline: 1933" on the same web site I found this entry:

http://www.allaboutjazz.c...zz1933.htm

"On June 2, the morning of Duke Ellington's departure for Europe on the SS Olympic, John Hammond takes a portable phonograph to Ellington as a bon voyage present. Ellington declines. He does not like Hammond and does not need his presents or advice."

If Ellington disliked Hammond and turned his gift down then why would he 'sign his kingdom' away to Hammond like Prince's lyrics imply. Did he? Or is Prince just 'getting it twisted'? (Isn't that something Satan would do?)

Can anyone shed more light on this? I really want to know. John Hammond has been revered for 'disovering' jazz artists (like Billy Holiday) the same way Abraham Lincoln was for 'freeing the slaves'. Maybe Ellington never did sign with him and disliked him because he knew he would deceive him somehow, but I can't find the whole story.

..i think prince is only pointing out that john hammond made more money off of duke ellington than duke ellington did...

I was wondering about Mr. Hammond also. Thanks for bringing it up.

Rio; Thanks for responding and that makes some sense but how did he make any money off Ellington if Ellington never signed a contract with him. Did he or not?

Hi Nothingbutjoy!

Jestyr said:

...i was under the impression that he did...as john hammond is credited for 'discovering' duke ellington, billie holiday and others...but i haven't fully researched it, so i could be wrong...

Rio: check out my second link about Hammond's encounter with Duke...

yeh..i see that...but then when i did a search with duke ellington/john hammond there is at least one album that says 'john hammond/duke ellington..'
..on another page i saw something saying 'john hammond produced some of ellington's sides...'
...it's time for me to get ready for work...so i'll have to do more research later, but i'm wondering if ellington eventually 'caved' and let hammond sign him?...
i dunno...

Thanks dude. Have a great night at work.