“We all wanted Strays on our recording dates because he was an absolute master.“
– Clark Terry
Mission: Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc. was established in 1997 to bring recognition to Billy Strayhorn who, as one of America’s greatest composers, has made a major contribution to the world of music; to provide printed music of Billy Strayhorn enabling the study his legacy and performance of his compositions; to enlighten and inspire the public regarding Strayhorn’s freedom to be himself; and to bring into focus this man who was known to have lived by four freedoms namely, freedom from hate, freedom from self pity, freedom from fear of doing something that would benefit someone else more than it would himself, and freedom from the pride that could make him feel that he was better than others.
Motto: “Ever Up and Onward”