Added: 4 years ago
From: joshjazzhistory
Views: 3,142
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  • Although Ellington originally wrote the melody for Satin Doll, in his biography of Billy Strayhorn, Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn, David Hajdu says, Strayhorn fleshed out an Ellington riff sketch with harmony and lyrics ... and titled it Satin Doll, Strayhorns pet name for his mother. Strayhorns lyrics were not considered commercially viable, and five years later, lyricist and cofounder of Capitol Records, Johnny Mercer wrote new lyrics, resulting in the song we know today.

  • Satin Doll was written by Billy Strayhorn, not Duke.

  • Even the book written by Walter van der Leur about ALL Strayhorn's compositions does not claim Satin Doll as one of his. Perhaps you are confusing it with Take the A train?

  • You're correct! I indeed misspoke. In the Hajdu biography, Duke is likewise credited as having authored the tune, although Strayhorn perhaps harmonized it. Thanks for catching my error here.

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