Take The ‘A’ Train – Played by Roy Ingram’s Jazz & Blues Band – A UK Midlands Jazz & Blues Band – Jazz @ The Westwood – A ‘MidNiteSun’ Music Video 2008 – www.midnitesun.co.uk – Take the “A” Train – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – This article does not cite any references or sources – Music by Billy Strayhorn, 1939 – Lyrics by Joya Sherrill, 1944 – Original artist Duke Ellington – Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald – “Take the ‘A’ Train” is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra – History – The use of the Strayhorn composition as the signature tune was made necessary by a ruling in 1940 by ASCAP. When ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers) raised its licensing fees for broadcast use, many ASCAP members, including Ellington, could no longer play their compositions over radio, as most music was played live on radio in those days. Ellington turned to Billy Strayhorn and son Mercer Ellington, who were registered with ASCAP competitor BMI to “write a whole new book for the band,” Mercer recalled.” ‘A’ Train” was one of many songs written by Strayhorn, and was picked to replace “Sepia Panorama” and the band’s signature song. Mercer recalled that he found the song in a trash can after Strayhorn discarded because it sounded too much like a Fletcher Henderson arrangement. The song was first recorded on January 15, 1941 as a standard transcription for radio broadcast. The first (and most famous) commercial …