Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

by David Hajdu
Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn  
published June 26th 1997 by North Point Press
first published 1998
binding Paperback
isbn 0865475121   (isbn13: 9780865475120)
pages 305
literary awards 1996 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
description A 1996 nominee for the National Book Critics Circle Award, this perceptive, meticulously researched biography rescues from obscurity the gifted Billy ...more
date added
02-16-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 56)



Anthony
Anthony rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/28/08

Read in June, 2000
recommends it for: music lovers.
I found this book on a random act of book browsing. I was a long time fan of the song "Lush Life", but I had no idea who originally wrote it. Finding out that Billy Strayhorn was seventeen when he wrote "Lush Life" (not to mention already openly gay) was enough for me to carry on. Strayhorn was Duke Ellington's side kick who never saw the limelight of fame, but had a large round of respect for his abilities.


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shiv
shiv rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/28/07

bookshelves: nonfiction
having finally finished it, i continue to find the book appallingly written. but i had a bit of a crush on billy strayhorn by the end of it, and was unbelievably sad to leave his world. which, i suppose, is the point of a good biography.

i think we would have been tremendous drinking buddies.
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Marissa
Marissa rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
05/30/08

Read in January, 2005
Strayhorn is one of my favorite composers and this was a very well written biography. I enjoy learning more about the musicians and artists that I love, it adds layers to their art and it's interesting to discover the similarities and differences between them and me.
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ellenbrenna
ellenbrenna rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/07/07

bookshelves: biography, history, music
Read in March, 2006
It is a thoroughly researched but not very well written biography but Billy Strayhorn himself was a fascinating figure in the history of jazz music so it was certainly worth the read.
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Erica
Erica rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/13/08

Read in July, 2008
This is one of the best biographies I have ever read, and is definitely my favorite book by David Hajdu. Made me cry.
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Paul
Paul rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
05/26/08

A fine biography of the man who made Duke Ellington sound so good.
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Mitu
Mitu rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
05/26/08

 

Paulatina
Paulatina rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/04/07

 

Altonmann
bookshelves: jazz
 

lisa
lisa added it
03/28/08

 

Mike
Mike rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
11/04/07

 

Donald
Donald marked it as to-read
03/06/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Scott
Scott added it
06/02/08

 

Marc
08/26/07

Read in January, 2005
recommends it for: Aynone
 

Betsy
Betsy added it
03/05/08

 

Qa'id
Qa'id rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/09/08

bookshelves: art
 

Sean
Sean rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/17/07

bookshelves: jazz
 

Etanouye
Etanouye rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/25/07

 

Ryan
Ryan rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/07/08

 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.00 (41 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.00 (36 ratings)
number of reviews: 6






other editions

Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn (Hardcover)
Lush Life: Biography of Billy Strayhorn (Hardcover)
Lush Life