“…dominated by the underworld…”

“Dusk”; Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra; Duke Ellington; O. Hardwicke; B. Webster; J. Hodges; B. Bigard; H. Carney; C. Williams; R. Stewart; W. Jones; L. Brown; J. Nanton; J. Tizol; F. Guy; J. Blanton; S. Greer; Victor (20-1534-A); Publication date: May 28, 1940

“Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga”; Dick Stabile and his Orchestra; Shirley Gay; Newman; Monaco; Vocalion (5593); Publication date: May 28, 1940

“A Portrait of Bert Williams”; Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra; O. Hardwick; H. Carney; J. Hodges; A. Bigard; B. Webster; R. Stewart; C. Williams; W. Jones; J. Nanton; J. Tizol; L. Brown; Duke Ellington; J. Blanton; F. Guy; S. Greer; RCA Victor (26644-A); Publication date: May 28, 1940

The New York Times, May 28, 1940

TWO LEPKE AIDES FACE COURT TODAY

Strauss and Capone Accused With Racketeer and 3 Others of First-Degree Murder

The New York Times, May 28, 1940

[By the end of May 1940 the “Brooklyn murder syndicate” (Murder, Inc.), was dying, due in part to a few murders with “corroboration,” … and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra were creating great music…]

“Bojangles”; Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra; O. Hardwick; H. Carney; J. Hodges; A. Bigard; B. Webster; R. Stewart; C. Williams; W. Jones; J. Nanton; J. Tizol; L. Brown; Duke Ellington; J. Blanton; F. Guy; S. Greer; RCA Victor (26644-B); Publication date: May 28, 1940