Tony Bennett to Present His Painting of Duke Ellington to the National Portrait Gallery

Tony Bennett to Present His Painting of Duke Ellington to the National Portrait Gallery

WHAT: Tony Bennett to present his painting of Duke Ellington to the National Portrait Gallery on the 110th anniversary of Ellington's birth in Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 29; 9:30 to 11 a.m.
9:30 to 10 a.m.: Press sign-in
10 a.m.: Remarks and presentation
10:30 a.m.: Portrait installed in "New Arrivals" gallery

WHERE: National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G streets N.W.

WHO: Martin Sullivan, director, National Portrait Gallery; Tony Bennett, musician and artist

RSVP: bentleyb@si.edu (202) 633-8293 or hahnj@si.edu (202) 633-8295

Tony Bennett will present his watercolor painting of Duke Ellington to the National Portrait Gallery Wednesday, April 29, at 10 a.m. This date was chosen as it is the 110th anniversary of Ellington's birth and the end of Jazz Appreciation Month.

Immediately following the presentation, the portrait will be hung in the museum's "New Arrivals" gallery. It will be on view when the museum opens to the public at 11:30 a.m.

The painting depicts Ellington with a bouquet of pink roses in the background. Bennett, who considered Ellington a mentor, chose this motif to celebrate Ellington's habit of sending the singer a dozen pink roses whenever Ellington composed a new song.

Bennett, a 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer, has been painting all his life and has a reputation as an accomplished visual artist. This donation marks the third painting he has donated to the Smithsonian.

Media Web site: http://newsdesk.si.edu/

CONTACT: Bethany Bentley, +1-202-633-8293, or Julia Hahn, +1-202-633-8295, both of the National Portrait Gallery

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- April 21/

Source: National Portrait Gallery

Web Site: http://newsdesk.si.edu/

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