William "Billy" Strayhorn (1915-1967)
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Jazz composer and arranger. Collaborator with Duke Ellington. Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A Train" became the Ellington orchestra's theme song. A graduate of Westinghouse High School, Strayhorn had his musical talents nurtured here.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Billy Strayhorn grew up in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood and honed his gifts at Westinghouse High School before becoming one of the great composers and arrangers in American jazz. His decades-long partnership with Duke Ellington produced some of the era's most enduring music, and his composition "Take the A Train" became the Ellington orchestra's signature theme. A classically trained musician with a sophisticated ear, Strayhorn shaped the sound of the Ellington band from behind the scenes.
Why it matters
Strayhorn stands among the towering figures of 20th-century American music, and his Pittsburgh roots tie the city to the golden age of jazz composition.
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Related people
- · Billy Strayhorn
- · Duke Ellington
Themes & tags
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