William Cook Marion

"A story related by Duke Ellington gives more insight into Cook's character. When a reviewer of his 1895 concert in Carnegie Hall wrote that Cook was "the world's greatest Negro violinist," Cook went to see him, violin in hand:

"Thank you very much for the favorable review," he said. "You wrote that I was the world's greatest Negro violinist." "Yes, Mr. Cook," the man said, "and I meant it. You are definitely the world's greatest Negro violinist." With that, Dad [Ellington's nickname for him] Cook took out his violin and smashed it across the reviewer's desk. "I am not the world's greatest Negro violinist," he exclaimed. "I am the greatest violinist in the world!" He turned and walked away from his splintered instrument....."