<P> Ellington was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1965 but no prize was ultimately awarded that year . Then 66 years old, he joked: "Fate is being kind to me . Fate doesn't want me to be famous too young ." In 1999 he was posthumously awarded a special Pulitzer Prize "commemorating the centennial year of his birth, in recognition of his musical genius, which evoked aesthetically the principles of democracy through the medium of jazz and thus made an indelible contribution to art and culture ." </P> <P> In September 1965, he premiered the first of his Sacred Concerts . He created a jazz Christian liturgy . Although the work received mixed reviews, Ellington was proud of the composition and performed it dozens of times . This concert was followed by two others of the same type in 1968 and 1973, known as the Second and Third Sacred Concerts . These generated controversy in what was already a tumultuous time in the United States . Many saw the Sacred Music suites as an attempt to reinforce commercial support for organized religion, though Ellington simply said it was "the most important thing I've done". The Steinway piano upon which the Sacred Concerts were composed is part of the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History . Like Haydn and Mozart, Ellington conducted his orchestra from the piano--he always played the keyboard parts when the Sacred Concerts were performed . </P> <P> Despite his advancing age (he turned 65 in the spring of 1964), Ellington showed no sign of slowing down as he continued to make vital and innovative recordings, including The Far East Suite (1966), New Orleans Suite (1970), Latin American Suite (1972) and The Afro - Eurasian Eclipse (1971), much of it inspired by his world tours . It was during this time that he recorded his only album with Frank Sinatra, entitled Francis A. & Edward K. (1967). </P> <P> Although he made two more stage appearances before his death, Ellington performed what is considered his final full concert in a ballroom at Northern Illinois University on March 20, 1974 . </P>

Who is recognized as the first great composer of jazz