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Billy Strayhorn
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William Thomas “Billy” Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American composer, pianist and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington lasting nearly three decades. The composition most closely associated with Strayhorn is “Lush Life”.
Billy Strayhorn was born in Dayton, Ohio. He began his musical career in Pittsburgh, where he studied for a time at the Pittsburgh Music Institute, wrote a high school musical and, while still in his teens, composed “Lush Life”, a work that had the world weariness of an older man. He met Duke Ellington backstage after an Ellington performance in Pittsburgh in 1938. Here he first told, and then showed, the band leader how he would have arranged one of Duke’s own pieces. Ellington was impressed enough to invite other band members to hear Strayhorn. At the end of the visit he arranged for Strayhorn to meet him when the band returned to New York. Strayhorn worked for Ellington for the next quarter century until his early death from cancer.
Strayhorn’s relationship with Ellington was always difficult to pin down: he was a gifted composer and arranger who seemed to flourish in Duke’s shadow. Ellington may have taken advantage of him, but not in the mercenary way that others had taken advantage of Ellington; instead, he used Strayhorn to complete his thoughts, while giving Strayhorn the freedom to write on his own and enjoy at least some of the credit he deserved. Strayhorn, for his part, may have preferred to stay out of the limelight, since that also allowed him to be out of the closet in an era and a community that did not tolerate gay artists.
Billy Strayhorn was born in Dayton, Ohio. He began his musical career in Pittsburgh, where he studied for a time at the Pittsburgh Music Institute, wrote a high school musical and, while still in his teens, composed “Lush Life”, a work that had the world weariness of an older man. He met Duke Ellington backstage after an Ellington performance in Pittsburgh in 1938. Here he first told, and then showed, the band leader how he would have arranged one of Duke’s own pieces. Ellington was impressed enough to invite other band members to hear Strayhorn. At the end of the visit he arranged for Strayhorn to meet him when the band returned to New York. Strayhorn worked for Ellington for the next quarter century until his early death from cancer.
Strayhorn’s relationship with Ellington was always difficult to pin down: he was a gifted composer and arranger who seemed to flourish in Duke’s shadow. Ellington may have taken advantage of him, but not in the mercenary way that others had taken advantage of Ellington; instead, he used Strayhorn to complete his thoughts, while giving Strayhorn the freedom to write on his own and enjoy at least some of the credit he deserved. Strayhorn, for his part, may have preferred to stay out of the limelight, since that also allowed him to be out of the closet in an era and a community that did not tolerate gay artists.
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Lush Life
Billy Strayhorn
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Piano Passion
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The Peaceful Side
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Passion Flower
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Chelsea Bridge
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Take The "A" Train
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Shoutbox
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Gamester wrote:
Hey! Care to join the new "American Classical Music" group to honor American composers and their music? Check it out and join if you like! :o)
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frederickellis wrote:
Billy Strayhorn is not remembered as he should be. The arrangements & compositions he did for Ellington are the stuff of legends.
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SirAlecHendrix wrote:
Billy Strayhorn—now connected to the brandnew group ➤ Round Midnight
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F_Hole wrote:
Words fail to convey the joy Mr. Strayhorn's music has brought to me over the years. No matter how many mod players have tried to lay claim to his music, Mr. Strayhorn's playing, composing and orchestration would be unique in any era. Truly an American autodidact in the great tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright, Duke Ellington, Preston Tucker, Charles Ives, or Emily Dickinson.
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neilbombd wrote:
A genius.
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accokeek wrote:
A new film on Billy Strayhorn is available. It's excellent. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/billystrayhorn/film.html
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Recent Activity
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rdillner, LL_FRB_DK, JCStrayhorn1 and 1 other person added Billy Strayhorn to their libraries. Saturday morning
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Parisblues tagged Billy Strayhorn with jazz-composers, bstrayhorn and billy strayhorn. last month
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trifibian connected Billy Strayhorn to the group Harlem Renaissance. last month
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joostluistert tagged Billy Strayhorn with american, composer, piano and one other tag. last month
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Uhwelluh wrote about Billy Strayhorn in Time broadcast. December 2009
Related Journals
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Time broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
30 Dec 2009 | Add comment
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Billy Strayhorn broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
25 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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Duke's Rhythm & Vocalists broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
29 Apr 2009 | Add comment
Groups (7)
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Jazz Brasil
672 members
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Round Midnight
196 members
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This Goop Only Consists To Halve The Blessed Dialectic, Maybe - Oh Myriad!
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American Classical Music
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Bill Evans
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