Billy Strayhorn

Composer, lyricist, arranger and pianist Billy Strayhorn's career was inextricably linked to that of the great Duke Ellington. For nearly thirty years, the small, diffident guy with the gold-rimmed spectacles (nicknamed "Sweepea" by band members, after a comic book character) served as Ellington's closest confidante and collaborator. He was also his protégé. In the wake of a performance by the Ellingtonians in Pittsburgh in December 1938, the classically-trained Strayhorn submitted some of his own compositions. He was then interviewed by Duke who took him on as staff arranger despite his apparent lack of experience. With a little coaching from a friend (Bill Esch, who had written arrangements for Ina Ray Hutton), Strayhorn managed to turn out two pieces for alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges ("Savoy Strut" and "Like a Ship in the Night"). Before long, he found himself in charge of almost all of the arrangements for band vocalists, in particular recent arrival Ivie Anderson. Strayhorn won