Strayhorn, Billy

(born Nov. 29, 1915, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.—died May 31, 1967, New York, N.Y.) U.S. pianist, composer, and arranger. Strayhorn approached jazz composer and bandleader Duke Ellington with a composition in 1938, and he was soon contributing arrangements and original works to Ellington's band. His “Take the ‘A' Train,” recorded in 1941, became the band's theme song. His work so complemented Ellington's that it is often impossible to distinguish their respective contributions. Strayhorn made expressive ballads his specialty and became noted for the structural and harmonic sophistication of pieces such as “Lush Life,” “Something to Live For,” “Passion Flower,” and “Day Dream.”