Conversation so far:
What was his first gig?
They played at rent-house parties for income.
Where was this?
Harlem.
How long did he play in Harlem?
After a few months, the young musicians returned to Washington, D.C., feeling discouraged.
What did he do in Washington D.C.?
CANNOTANSWER.

Question: Was he successful?
Self-contained rewrite: Was Duke Ellington successful?