Duke Ellington: His Life Story, Part Two
21 August 2010
Duke Ellington played piano, but his real instrument was the orchestra
RICHARD RAEL: I'm Richard Rael.
RAY FREEMAN: And I'm Ray Freeman with the VOA Special English program PEOPLE IN AMERICA. Every week we tell about a person who was important in the history of the United States. Today, we finish our report about the great jazz musician Duke Ellington.
(MUSIC)
RICHARD RAEL: That song is "Take the 'A' Train." It is like a musical sign that says, "You are listening to Duke Ellington and his orchestra." Music fans around the world know the song is linked closely to Duke Ellington. Yet they may not know that he did not write it.
"Take the 'A' Train" was written by a close friend and orchestra member, Billy Strayhorn. Billy and Duke had a very close working relationship for almost thirty years. Sometimes, it was difficult to tell which man had written a new song for the orchestra. Members of the group often argued about who had written it . . . Duke or Billy Strayhorn.
"Take the 'A' Train," written by Billy Strayhorn, was Duke Ellington's most famous song
RAY FREEMAN: Duke Ellington always wrote music. Music experts say he may have written as many as two thousand different songs. He wrote music wherever he went. He wrote late at night. He wrote on the train or bus or airplane when the orchestra traveled. Friends say he wrote music even in eating places while he waited for his food.
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