By Tobias Carroll Had he only been a composer, musician or bandleader, Duke Ellington would still occupy a rarefied place in the annals of 20th century music. The fact that he was all three, however, makes him that much more of a musical icon. But while Ellington was an acclaimed public figure during his lifetime, one high-profile honor eluded him: the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Music. In 1965, the music jury unanimously recommended that Ellington receive the award. The advisory board, however, turned down their recommendation; that year, no award was given. In the aftermath of that decision, two…
