Billy Strayhorn
The brilliant, discreet architect behind Duke Ellington's sound, whose sophisticated compositions became jazz standards.
1915–1967 (age 52)·American jazz pianist, composer, lyricist and arranger·Birthday: November 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Billy Strayhorn was a musical savant whose quiet genius found its perfect outlet in collaboration with Duke Ellington. Meeting the bandleader in 1938, the young composer presented "Lush Life," a complex song written in his teens that signaled a rare talent. Strayhorn soon became Ellington's closest creative partner, an arranger, pianist, and composer integral to the orchestra's evolution. While Ellington commanded the spotlight, Strayhorn worked with elegant precision from the shadows, crafting timeless pieces that blended classical harmony with jazz innovation. His compositions, like the swinging anthem "Take the 'A' Train," which became the band's theme, defined an era. Living as an openly gay man in a less tolerant time, his personal life and immense contribution were often understated, yet his musical legacy is indelible.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Billy was born in 1915, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Billy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1915
#1 Movie
The Birth of a Nation
Billy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1915Born
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Started school
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1928Became a teenager
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Could drive
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1933Could vote
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Turned 21
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1945Turned 30
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 40
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 50
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1967Died at 52
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
Key Achievements
- Composed "Take the 'A' Train," the signature theme of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
- Wrote the jazz standards "Lush Life," "Chelsea Bridge," and "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing."
- Orchestrated and co-composed Ellington's groundbreaking, longer works like "Such Sweet Thunder."
- Received a posthumous Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime of contributions in 2018.
Did You Know?
He was classically trained and originally aspired to be a concert pianist.
The "A" Train in his famous song refers to the New York City subway line that went to Harlem.
He and Ellington shared such a close creative bond that their compositions were often credited simply to "Ellington-Strayhorn."
He was a committed civil rights activist and composed the instrumental "Blood Count" while battling cancer.
“Ever up and onward with a great pride and joy in his already legendary stride.”
