Sir Duke

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"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. The track topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles charts, and reached number two in the UK singles chart, his biggest hit there at the time.

The song was written about Duke Ellington, an artist who influenced Wonder's style. Ellington died in 1974 and the song was a tribute. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

The artists, apart from Stevie Wonder, who perform on the original version were: Raymond Pounds (drums), Nathan Watts (bass), Mike Sembello (lead guitar), Ben Bridges (rhythm guitar), Hank Redd (alto saxophone), Trevor Laurence (tenor saxophone), Raymond Maldonado (trumpet), and Steve Madaio (trumpet) (the latter two musicians contributing a noteworthy trumpet solo which is nearly as integral to the recording as the lyrics or Wonder's vocals).

Wonder rerecorded the song for the live album Natural Wonder.

[edit] Trivia

In the early to mid-1990s, "Sir Duke" was played during the NBA's New York Knicks games at Madison Square Garden.

Preceded by "When I Need You" by Leo Sayer

Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 21, 1977

Succeeded by "I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC and the Sunshine Band