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About the Song "Take the A Train"
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TAKE THE A TRAIN
"You must take the A train, to go to Sugar Hill way up in
Harlem.
If you miss the A train, You'll find you've missed the
quickest way to Harlem..."
The A Train
is still the quickest way to Harlem.
Billy Strayhorn wrote "Take the A train"
in 1941. Strayhorn was traveling up to Sugar Hill where Duke
Ellington lived when the music flowed into his head. It was
inspired by the rapidity of the train that rumbles down
express tracks. The song became Duke Ellington's signature
tune. "Take the A train" was played at both Strayhorn and
Ellington's funeral and is the most well known piece of both
jazz musicians. NPR added "Take the A Train" to the NPR top
100 list of America's culturally significant songs.
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About the "A" Train
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Seventy five years ago, on 10 September, 1932, the A express train made its first trip under Eighth Avenue spanning twelve miles from downtown all the way to Inwood at the top of Manhattan. Now, the A train travels from Inwood-207th Street to Far Rockaway, 31 miles away in Queens. It is the longest line in the New York subway.
For more information visit:
www.mta.info
Click here for the
A Train Line
Click here for the
A Train Schedule
Click here for
MTA NYC Subway Map
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The Islands Of The Bahamas is the proud sponsor of
The 1939 Original Historic "A" Train on Duke Ellington Day |
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“They say It’s Better In The Bahamas and the islands-nation was one of Duke Ellington’s favorite tropical destinations. He often played at the famous Cat and Fiddle Club in Nassau, which was a venue where top Jazz musicians from around the world came to entertain in the 50's and 60's. The club was run by the late Fred Munnings, who is survived by his sons Raphael (Ray) Munnings and Fred Munnings JR., both successful musicians in their own right. For more information on The Islands Of The Bahamas, please visit www.bahamas.com.” |
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| Take the "A" Train to:
BORDERS Columbus Circle- Time Warner Center | April 29th @ 7PM
Ellington on Ellington
Join Paul Ellington as he discusses his grandfathers career and music.
Duke Ellington Prints, CDs, DVDs, Books available @ Borders
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Duke Ellington |
April 29, 1899 –
May 24, 1974
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Edward Kennedy
"Duke" Ellington is one of the most influential figures in jazz, if
not in all American music and is widely considered one of the
twentieth century's best known African American celebrities. As both
a composer and a band leader, Ellington's reputation has increased
since his death. He gave American music its own sound for the first
time. Ellington transcended boundaries and filled the world with a
treasure trove of music that renews itself to every generation.
In his fifty year career, he played over 20,000 performances
worldwide. When asked what inspired him to write, Ellington replied,
"My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch
the character and mood and feeling of my people."
Duke Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards including the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement in 1966, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
1969, the Legion of Honor by France in 1973, the Pulitzer Prize, his
image appeared on a US stamp in 1986 and is the first
African-American to solo on a U.S. coin- the quarter was released in
January 2009.
Ellington died on May 24, 1974, a month after his 75th birthday. He
is buried in the Bronx, NYC. His funeral was attended by over 12,000
people at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Ella Fitzgerald
said, "It's a very sad day... A genius has passed."
For more on Duke
Ellington visit:
www.dukeellington.com
Recent News:
Jazz man is first African-American to solo on U.S. circulating coin
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The World Famous
Duke Ellington
Orchestra
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