About
The MellotoneS
The Mellotones are a 10 piece Duke Ellington Repertory Jazz Orchestra.
For the last 15 years, the Mellotones have had a very productive and entertaining life in San Diego and the surrounding areas. Led by Peter DeLuke who chose all professionals like himself.
In the Big Band/Swing Era Duke Ellington was just one of the very successful big names because of the creative capacity of composition, there were others, but Edward Ellington was the first and was given the name Duke.
The Mellotones repertoire is mostly Ellington and Strayhorn (Billy) who was a very gifted composer and pianist that contributed much to the musical library. The Mellotones also perform many other compositions of the swing era but are devoted to Ellington and Strayhorn for their excellence of composition.
Peter DeLuke
Peter DeLuke started his professional career as a reed player when he was 15 years old. He received a B.S. at the Crane School of Music and later received a Masters Degree and Professional Diploma from Columbia University. Mr. DeLuke was Supervisor of Music, Hastings Public Schools K-12, in Hastings-on Hudson, NY.
Peter has played with many name bands… Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Buddy Morrow, Mel Lewis, Art Mooney, Shep Fields and Sammy Kaye.
He has also performed with many famous singers… Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Julius LaRosa and Perry Como.
In June, 1996, Peter was the featured soloist with the UCSD Wind Ensemble under the direction of Robert Zelickman. He performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in February, 1999, at Copley Symphony Hall, Poway Center for the Performing Arts, and the Sports Arena. Peter was featured soloist with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Donald Barra, Artistic Director at the Festival Pops “99” series.
Presently, Peter leads a 10 piece Duke Ellington Repertory Jazz Orchestra “The Mellotones” in Southern California – since 2004.
Songs We Like To Play
Some of the repertoire featured includes:
Take the A Train
C Jam Blues
The Mooche
Boy Meets Horn
Warm Valley
Ring Sem Bells
Beginning to See the Light
Cottontail
Do Nothing Till you Hear From Me
Mood Indigo
In A Mellotone
Concerto For Cootie
Night Train
Upper Manhattan Medical Group
Mr. J B Blues
Caravan
Embraceable You
I’ve Got Your Under My Skin
Summer Wind
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
My Funny Valentine
Too Close For Comfort
How High The Moon
You Do Something To Me
Somethings Got To Give
I Get A Kick Out of You
Photo Gallery
