Celebrate the vibrant Jazz, R&B and Soul music of African American artists who, during segregation, created the foundation of modern American music. Navigating the injustices of racial segregation was difficult and, at times, dangerous—even for renowned Black artists like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Little Richard or Sam Cooke. Like many other Black Americans, they relied on Victor Hugo Green’s Negro Travelers’ Green Book, a directory of lodgings, restaurants and entertainment venues where African Americans were safe and welcomed. The virtual “underground musicians green book”—a network of friends, family and fans—provided food, lodging and fellowship for Black entertainers on tour.

Green’s book was a guide to a parallel world of vibrant Black neighborhoods like New York City’s Harlem, Chicago’s Bronzeville and Washington, D.C.’s U Street, where Black entrepreneurs created thriving businesses that served and sustained Black patrons and artists. Informally known as the Chitlin’ Circuit, these music venues included glamorous theaters, swinging dance halls and rural juke joints, where icons and rising stars alike honed their craft and won audience acclaim.

The program shines the spotlight on legendary Jazz, R&B and Soul performers who kept The Apollo and Howard Theaters and Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom jumping, and who also toured the Southern one-night circuit on their road to success. It features an exciting mix of classic songs performed by legendary and contemporary stars and candid interviews with performers, celebrities and notable musicians who were a part of the circuit. Music was a uniting force during segregation and remains so to this day. The Musicians’ Green Book will honor the genius of these Black artists, who, during these difficult times, changed America with their songs.

Premiering exclusively in December on PBS.

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington Interview in Sweden - February 3, 1963

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington stands as one of the most towering figures in American music, a composer, pianist, and bandleader whose artistry not only transcended boundaries but reshaped the very landscape of jazz and popular music. Born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C., into a middle-class family that nurtured his early love for music, Ellington began piano lessons at age seven, though his true passion ignited in his teens when he started sneaking into local pool halls to hear ragtime and stride pianists. Nicknamed "Duke" for his elegant demeanor, he carried that sophistication into a career that spanned over five decades, leaving an indelible mark with timeless classics like "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)," which introduced the term "swing" into the jazz lexicon, and "Mood Indigo," a hauntingly beautiful standard that showcased his gift for melody and mood. Ellington’s genius lay not just in performance but in composition—his orchestral works, such as Black, Brown and Beige, celebrated Black history and culture with a complexity that elevated jazz to concert halls worldwide. Yet, beyond the glittering spotlight of Harlem’s Cotton Club, where his band became the house act in the late 1920s, and his landmark 1943 Carnegie Hall debut, Ellington’s journey as a Black artist in a segregated America was fraught with challenges. His rise coincided with an era of racial division, and his relentless touring brought him face-to-face with the harsh realities of Jim Crow laws, intertwining his story with the survival tools of the Negro Motorist Green Book and the vibrant, gritty network of the Chitlin' Circuit.

During the Jim Crow era, the Negro Motorist Green Book was an essential lifeline for Black travelers, including musicians like Ellington. Published from 1936 to 1966, this guide listed safe havens—hotels, restaurants, and venues—where African Americans could find respite from the indignities and dangers of segregation. For Ellington and his orchestra, the Green Book wasn’t just a travel tool; it was a map to survival as they toured relentlessly across the country, bringing jazz to eager audiences while dodging the hostility of a divided nation.

Ellington’s travels often overlapped with the Chitlin' Circuit, a network of Black-owned clubs, theaters, and juke joints that offered a stage for African American performers shut out of mainstream venues. From the Apollo Theater in Harlem to roadhouses in the Deep South, these stops were more than gigs—they were cultural strongholds where Ellington honed his craft and connected with Black communities. Despite the glamour of his later fame, the Circuit’s grit and soul remained woven into his music, reflecting both resilience and defiance.

Duke Ellington didn’t just play the notes; he composed a soundtrack for a people in motion, turning the struggles of segregation into sophisticated artistry. His legacy reminds us that jazz wasn’t just born in the clubs—it thrived on the road, guided by the Green Book and fueled by the spirit of the Chitlin' Circuit.