DREAMWORKS PUB GOES
A-STRAYHORN

The catalog of legendary jazz composer/pianist Billy Strayhorn has been acquired by DreamWorks Music Publishing, which plans to help introduce Strayhorn’s works, including "Take the ‘A’ Train," "Chelsea Bridge" and "Something To Live For," to new fans, while rekindling the love of existing ones.

Strayhorn, who died in 1967, was considered a musical prodigy and pursued jazz under classical training, bringing African rhythms to classical and pop music of the 1930s, to help develop a new American music genre. He was invited to New York in 1939 by jazz great Duke Ellington, who’d discovered his talents, and soon after, Strayhorn wrote the Ellington Orchestra’s signature piece, "‘A’ Train."

An invitation-only event honoring Strayhorn’s life and work will take place on Thursday night (6/21) at Beverly Hills restaurant Reign, where a CD sampler of his music will be distributed. Industry attendees planning to blather about how they’ve always adored jazz—after their fourth or fifth Cosmopolitan—are advised that Kenny G doesn’t really count.

"Strayhorn redefined the musical landscape," Herb Jordan, curator of the Strayhorn catalog said. "Like George and Ira Gershwin and Lennon and McCartney, Strayhorn and Ellington helped us hear things in music that have stayed with us for decades and will surely endure long after we’re gone."

"We are deeply honored to have a acquired the Strayhorn catalog," said DreamWorks Publishing head Chuck Kaye. "[His] music is already part of the fabric of American culture, but we believe we can help introduce a whole new generation to his work through placement in film, television and other global media. Say, do the ‘Matrix’ sequels have a theme song yet?"