Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn
by David Hajdu
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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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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.
i think we would have been tremendous drinking buddies.
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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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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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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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A fine biography of the man who made Duke Ellington sound so good.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
Aynone
