Watch BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life Tonight on Independent Lens

Winner for Best Documentary at the 2008 News and Documentary Emmys:

BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life: As Duke Ellington’s co-composer, arranger, and right-hand man, Billy Strayhorn wrote some of the greatest American music of the 20th century. But as a gay man in the ’40s and ’50s, Strayhorn had to lead a discreet existence, while Ellington played to thunderous applause on center stage. BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life tells the story of the unheralded man who changed jazz and popular music forever, maintaining artistic and personal integrity, while challenging prejudice along the way.

Check out the preview below:

BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life airs tonight at 10:00 PM (check local listings) on Independent Lens on PBS

Tags: , ,

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 All Video, Independent Lens
  • Fizzy

    This film is an absolutely brilliant account of the Life of Billy Strayhorn. Robert Levi has taken a scarce amount of primary documents and created a moving musical masterpiece–truly a jewel.

  • Fizzy

    This film is an absolutely brilliant account of the Life of Billy Strayhorn. Robert Levi has taken a scarce amount of primary documents and created a moving musical masterpiece–truly a jewel.

Archives