Duke Ellington – Jazz Bandleader and Composer
Portrayed by: George Brown (NSOUL honorary member)
George Brown, a masterful jazz musician and cultural educator, brings rhythm and reverence to his portrayal of Duke Ellington. With a career spanning decades, George has performed in concert halls and classrooms, using music to mentor youth and honor jazz as one of America’s deepest artistic legacies.
As an honorary member of NSOUL, George offers not just performance but preservation—channeling Ellington’s elegance, improvisational genius, and pride in Black cultural identity. His live storytelling and music echo the brilliance of Ellington’s compositions and the enduring heartbeat of jazz.
Irving Berlin – Composer of American Standards
Portrayed by: Karl Behling (Utah Storytelling Guild)
Karl Behling brings history and humor to the stage through his portrayal of Irving Berlin, a self-taught immigrant musician who defined generations of American sound. Karl’s 25+ years as a storyteller, coupled with 36 years as a teacher, fuel his ability to interpret historical figures with both warmth and rigor.
An award-winning writer, Karl has penned several books and regularly contributes to the Utah Storytelling Guild’s Taleswapper magazine. He has portrayed historical icons from mountain men to revolutionaries, and now Berlin—a composer whose life of creativity and resilience complements Duke Ellington’s musical genius. Together, Karl and George Brown tell the story of how very different roads can lead to American song.