November 29th: Happy Birthday Billy Strayhorn!

Please join Billy Strayhorn Songs Inc. and the Billy Strayhorn Foundation in celebrating the 107th birthday of the composer, arranger, lyricist and virtuoso pianist, Billy Strayhorn. Born in Dayton, Ohio in 1915 and nurtured in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Billy Strayhorn helped to shape the jazz canon with timeless classics like “Take the A Train”, ‘Lush Life’, ‘Something to Live For’ and “Chelsea Bridge” among his extensive catalog and arrangements. His 28 year musical pairing with Duke Ellington from 1939 until his passing in 1967 is considered one of the greatest musical collaborations of the 20th century. Duke once said Billy “was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brainwaves in his head, and his in mine”…

His musical legacy continues to grow in what has been dubbed “21st Century Strayhorn”, as we see him much more prevalent in a growing music circle of younger musicians and studied more in depth by jazz educators. We leave you with a favorite Strayhorn phrase on this special day-“Ever Up and Onward”!