---
product_id: 8619253
title: "Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn"
brand: "david hajdu"
price: "€ 36.86"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.nl/products/8619253-lush-life-a-biography-of-billy-strayhorn
store_origin: NL
region: Netherlands
---

# Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

**Brand:** david hajdu
**Price:** € 36.86
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn by david hajdu
- **How much does it cost?** € 36.86 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nl](https://www.desertcart.nl/products/8619253-lush-life-a-biography-of-billy-strayhorn)

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## Description

Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn

## Images

![Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nEUOw31dL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Incredible research
  

*by E***G on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2023*

I don't think I can add much more than what other reviews have said. Incredibly well-researched and well-written. I learned so much more about the life and struggles of one of my composition heroes, including the complexity of his relationship with The Duke.Incredible read,  time well spent, and I'll be going back to the book periodically.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Great information about Duke's alter-ego
  

*by L***H on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 17, 2022*

This gives a lot of information, with quotes from knowledgeable musicians and friends, about Duke Ellington's alter-ego, Billy Strayhorn, who from c. 1936 until c. 1967 wrote many of Duke's arrangements, either in collaboration or by himself.  Because Strayhorn was openly gay in the Dark Ages pre-Stonewall, he could not be acknowledged, and his name was omitted from many compositions and recordings of which he was the co-author or sole author. Duke supported Strayhorn very well financially - as Duke did all his musicians - but Strayhorn's forced life in the shadows affected him bitterly, as the author shows here.  Four stars, though, because David Hadju has such a wooden prose style that, despite the fascinating facts, the book can be a slog to get through.  Still, for any Ellingtonian, this is a must!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    "Ever Up and Onward" Billy Strayhorn
  

*by L***N on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 14, 2014*

Lush Life is the award-winning watershed biography of the life of Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967).  In 2011, the book was selected by New York Times Magazine as one of the top 100 non-fiction titles of all time.  Billy Strayhorn's story is compelling, especially in this day and age.  He is best known as the collaborator with the great Duke Ellington.  His best-known works are "Take The 'A' Train" (the Ellington theme song) and "Lush Life".  Hajdu's biography tells of his life from the perspective of those who knew him. Hajdu did more than 400 interviews of people including musicians, friends, family, noted celebrities and other entertainment professionals who had personal knowledge of Strayhorn's life and career.A black, gay musician in the 1940's Strayhorn chose to live his life openly.  There was a price to pay.  Many forces sprang into play that caused his legacy to be nearly invisible.  One factor involved the complicated relationship with Ellington who was not only his collaborator but also had the total power of publishing his works.  There were many works for which Strayhorn was not credited and/or where Ellington's name was added.  In addition, Ellington's publicist, known to be homophobic, instituted practices that served to keep Strayhorn's genius out of the spotlight.  Some involved removing his name from playbills/program notes, etc.Billy Strayhorn died prematurely on May 31, 1967 from cancer at the age of 51.Strayhorn, whose catalog consists of a magnitude of titles, is best known as the most unfamous significant musician of the 20th century.  Recent research, including Hajdu's LUSH LIFE, has served to remove the historical cloud and to reveal a life story so rich, so sad, so tragic, and so amazing--a "page turner" that brings the magnificent fruit of a hard life to full view.  It is not necessary to know anything about music or to be a jazz buff to be inspired by this book.A. Alyce Claerbaut

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*Product available on Desertcart Netherlands*
*Store origin: NL*
*Last updated: 2026-01-26*