Strayhorn

American  

[strey-hawrn] / ˈstreɪˌhɔrn /

noun

1. William Billy, 1915–67, U.S. jazz pianist and composer: collaborator with Duke Ellington.

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Strayhorn British  

/ ˈstreɪˌhɔːn /

noun

1. Billy, full name William Strayhorn. 1915–67, US jazz composer and pianist, noted esp for his association (1939–67) with Duke Ellington

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Example Sentences

His medley ended with a rousing version of “Take the A Train,” the Ellington band anthem composed by Billy Strayhorn; here, Byard’s playing ranges from stride-piano to dissonant tone clusters, as if to imply both where this music came from and where it might lead.

From The Wall Street Journal

Langston Hughes’s poems were featured on posters in my local library, and everybody knew Duke Ellington because of his signature tune, “Take the A Train,” written by Billy Strayhorn.

From New York Times

Davis mentions a dazzling array of influences from other great African American composers as well, such as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Charles Mingus and McCoy Tyner.

From Seattle Times

Like Strayhorn and Comstock’s arrangements before, Kinoshi’s score is based in jazz.

From New York Times

Its release, in 1960, also suggested an interesting switch in power dynamics between arranger and arranged: The original cover art gave Ellington, Strayhorn and Tchaikovsky the same billing.

From New York Times