Jazz
United States of America
Billy Strayhorn
Top Songs By Billy Strayhorn
About Billy Strayhorn
For too long, jazz composer and pianist Billy Strayhorn was thought of as a mere understudy or, at best, a collaborator of the great Duke Ellington. But as jazz musicians and historians continued to delve into Strayhorn's work, it became clear that not only was the artist's output equal to Ellington's in its brilliance, but his musical ideas had a profound impact on Ellington himself. Strayhorn, who was one of the few openly gay figures in jazz history, has written some of the genre's most lasting compositions, including "Take the 'A' Train" (the Ellington band's theme song), "Satin Doll," and his masterpiece, "Lush Life," one of the most frequently covered pop songs ever written. Strayhorn died of throat cancer in 1967 at the age of 54.
Influenced by Billy StrayhornBilly Strayhorn has influenced the music of Rufus Wainwright, Burt Bacharach, Miles Davis and more.
Similar to: Billy Strayhorn
Discover more music and artists similar to Billy Strayhorn, like Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra, Amina Claudine Myers Trio
