Take the A Train
The story goes that in 1940, when ASCAP raised its royalty rate and the radio stations boycotted, Duke Ellington asked Billy Strayhorn (not an ASCAP member) to write a bunch of new tunes for his band. Ellington insisted Strayhorn work quickly, because of ASCAP’s copyright stranglehold, the band was essentially without a repertoire. Ellington gave Strayhorn directions to his apartment in Harlem so they could start working right away. By the time Strayhorn arrived he had written “Take the ‘A’ Train” and asked Ellington if that was quick enough for him.
So yesterday New York City celebrated the 110th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth by hooking up old ‘A train’ subway cars from the 30s and inviting the Duke Ellington Orchestra to perform on-board as the train made regular stops through-out the city picking up passengers. How totally brilliant is that? Check the slideshow and the article in the NY Times. So beautiful, what a tribute.
