Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger whose nearly three-decade partnership with Duke Ellington produced some of the most enduring music in jazz history. He wrote 'Take the 'A' Train' - the Ellington orchestra's signature theme - as well as the harmonically daring ballad 'Lush Life', yet spent much of his career working quietly in Ellington's shadow. After his death, scholars gradually untangled his vast contribution, and today his genius is widely acknowledged as central to the sound of the Great American Songbook.
The Billy Strayhorn Jazz Education Scholarship Award recipients from the Nashville Jazz Workshop Summer Camp were announced in June 2026.
A new article on Steel City History highlighted Strayhorn as 'Pittsburgh's Hidden Jazz Genius', noting that 'Take the A Train' has been recorded hundreds of times by hundreds of artists.
All About Jazz published a radio programme dedicated to Strayhorn's legacy, covering compositions including 'Lush Life', 'A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing' and 'Take The A Train'.
Pittsburgh Public Theater staged 'Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For', a theatrical tribute to Strayhorn performed at the O'Reilly Theater in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
