Felix Grant

Musical Artist

1918 – 1993

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Who was Felix Grant?

Felix E. Grant was a disk jockey who specialized in jazz during a long career in radio and television in Washington, D.C.; primarily on station WMAL, the local ABC affiliate. In addition to playing records, he was distinguished for his many interviews with performers. Many of those interviews were recorded and are now retained in the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, housed at the University of the District of Columbia. The collection also includes many other materials collected by Grant during his nearly 50 year career on the radio.

Grant is also generally accepted as the person who introduced Brazilian music to United States performers and listeners.

Grant is responsible for discovering Duke Ellington's birthplace. Although the original house had been demolished, Grant began efforts to mark the site in 1987. A bronze plaque was placed on the building occupying the birth site along with a sign: the "Duke Ellington Building." Duke Ellington's son Mercer attended the dedication on Ellington's birthday in 1989. Grant was also responsible for renaming Western High School, Duke Ellington High School and for renaming the Calvert Street Bridge the Duke Ellington Bridge. Documents in support of these events can be found in the Felix E. Grant Digital Collection.

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Born
1918
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Died
1993

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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