The Leading Classical Music Label Direct To You

Customer Service Toll Free 866.489.4152

Flash 9 required. Click to download.

Narrow your search
with our Music Browser

Classical Music

        Ballet
        Chamber Music
        Choral
        Concertos
        Film Music
        Folk Legends
        Instrumental
        Musicals
        Opera / Operetta
        Orchestral
        Vocal

Jazz

Jazz Contemporary
Jazz Icons

New Age

Wind Band

World

        Ballad
        Bhuddist
        Chinese Music
        Classical (World)
        Early Music (World)
        Folk
        Gamelan
        Gypsy
        Hindustani
        Jazz (World)
        Klezmer
        Sufi
        Vocal (World)
        World

Special Offers:

Free MP3 Downloads

A Special Offer for Valentines

Catalogs

Internship Opportunities

Celebrating Black History

Masters of American Music

53rd Annual Grammy� Award Winners

Clearance

Penguin Guide

200 Essential Recordings

Recently Released

Upcoming Releases

SACD

DVD

        Ballet DVD
        Classical Concert
        Classical Documentary
        Dance Documentary
        Opera DVD

Audio Books

        Anthologies / Collections
        Arts
        Biographies
        Children's Classics
        Classic Fiction
        Great Epics and Tales
        History
        Junior Classic Fiction
        Junior History
        Literature
        Music Biographies
        Music Education
        Non-Fiction
        Philosophy
        Plays - Others
        Plays - Shakespeare
        Poetry
        Religion
        Samplers
        Sports
        Wine Guide

NaxosDirect Podcasts

Video Librarian Reviews

Labels

Naxos Label

        Naxos American Classics
        Naxos Best Of...
        Naxos Box Sets
        Naxos Cinema Classics
        Naxos Classics
        Naxos DVD
        Naxos DVD-Audio
        Naxos International
        Naxos Jazz
        Naxos Limited Edition
        Naxos Milken Archives
        Naxos Night Music
        Naxos Opera
        Naxos Orchestral
        Naxos Special Release
        Naxos Wind Band Classics
        Naxos World

Composers

Conductors

Ensembles

Orchestras

Choirs

Artists

Instruments

Producers

Choi, Ji-Yoen

STRAYHORN, BILLY (1915 - 1967)

William Strayhorn Composer, pianist, arranger (1915-1967) Billy Strayhorn was privileged to enjoy a classical musical education despite his disadvantaged childhood. While still in high school he wrote a revue that became a full-blown touring production starring the yet unknown Billy... (more info)

William Strayhorn
Composer, pianist, arranger
(1915-1967)

Billy Strayhorn was privileged to enjoy a classical musical education despite his disadvantaged childhood. While still in high school he wrote a revue that became a full-blown touring production starring the yet unknown Billy Eckstine.

In 1938 Strayhorn met Duke Ellington who immediately hired him. The following year they recorded their first collaboration, “Something to Live For,” with Strayhorn on piano. In 1941, following Duke’s written subway directions to his house, Strayhorn composed and wrote the lyrics to “Take the A Train” which became the band’s theme song. He worked as arranger, composer and second pianist for Ellington until his death, which left Ellington devastated. Their telepathic relationship makes it difficult to decipher where one begins and the other ends in their collaborations. “Swee’ Pea,” as Ellington called him, thrived in the Duke’s shadow where he found the security to vent his musical gifts and cultivate his artistic interests.

While still in his teens Strayhorn composed “Lush Life,” a sophisticated work with mature, world-weary lyrics. He played it for friends but did not publish it until 1949. Among Strayhorn’s other gems are “Chelsea Bridge” (1941), “Rain Check” (1942), “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing” (1944), and “Lotus Blossom” (1947). His collaborations with Ellington produced “Day Dream” (1941), “Something to Live For” (1939), “Satin Doll” (1958) and many larger works.

Strayhorn participated in the civil rights movement, making a 1963 trip to a large NAACP rally in the South with his good friend Lena Horne. When Ellington was honored at the White House on his 70^th birthday in 1969, he read Billy’s four articles of moral freedom to the embarrassment of President Nixon.

Strayhorn continued to write while hospitalized and turned out “UMMG” and a work which Ellington recorded as “Blood Count” in his 1967 tribute album to Strayhorn, And His Mother Called Him Bill.

-- Sandra Burlingame

Courtesy of JazzStandards.com

Discography (1)
Image	Title	Price	Release Date	Label
	Organ Recital: Ji-Yoen Choi	$9.99	Nov 20, 2001	Naxos Classics

Interested in exclusive offers from NaxosDirect & Naxos AudioBooks?

Sign up for our FREE Newsletter

FREE SHIPPING on orders
of 5 items or more!

Earn Naxos Rewards Points by opening an account and buying your favorite music today! Create your account here.

See all of our great site features here.