Duke Ellington and Peter Mennin

View of jazz musician, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington and Peter Mennin, head of the Juilliard School. Label on back: "From Harold H. Weicker, James F. Fox, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10036, 212/524-1180. For: Duke Ellington, Inc. For immediate release. Joy for the world. Duke Ellington (left) on Thanksgiving Day presented a check for $30,000 to Peter Mennin, head of New York's Juilliard School, to establish the Billy Strayhorn Memorial Scholarship at Juilliard. Had he lived, Strayhorn, the composer of 'Take the A train' and long-time Ellington collaborator, would have been 53 years old November 29. The check represents the proceeds of a benefit concert at Philharmonic Hall October 6 by Ellington, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, Joe Williams and other artists who contributed their talent. The ceremony took place on the plaza in front of the new Juilliard building, under construction in Lincoln Center. The scholarship will be available in perpetuity to talented students regardless of race or nationality." Handwritten on back: "Duke Ellington."