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Billy Strayhorn (1915–1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, and arranger best known for his nearly three-decade collaboration with Duke Ellington. His compositions, including "Take the 'A' Train," "Lush Life," and "Chelsea Bridge," have become jazz standards. Strayhorn's sophisticated harmonies and lyrical melodies significantly shaped the Ellington orchestra's sound. Openly gay at a time when it was uncommon, he also contributed to the civil rights movement. His legacy endures as one of jazz's most influential and underrecognized figures.