--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When [Billy] Strayhorn came on the scene…" description: "\"When [Billy] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away.\" — Gerry Mulligan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png" --- # When \[Billy\] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us… ![“When [Billy] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away.” quote by Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png) > “When \[Billy\] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away.” [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Billy Strayhorn’s arrival was so impactful that it astonished everyone, indicating his extraordinary talent. **In simple terms:** Strayhorn amazed everyone with his talent. Key Takeaway Recognize and celebrate talent. Themes music influence talent Mood admiring inspired Type historical musical When to use this quote - concerts - recordings - musical collaborations - cultural events Key Concepts jazz history artistic impact Questions to Reflect On - How does a single artist change a genre? - What makes a musical breakthrough memorable? A Different Perspective Impact may be fleeting without lasting work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Did you fart? Because you just blew me away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/did-you-fart-because-you-just-blew-me-away/) Author Name > [That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what Billy Strayhorn did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-evans/that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-try-to-do-what-billy-strayhorn/) Gil Evans > [Billy Strayhorn wrote Multicolored Blue. Billy to me is the boss of the arrangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/billy-strayhorn-wrote-multicolored-blue-billy-to-me-is-the-boss-of/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Billy Strayhorn was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brainwaves in his head, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/billy-strayhorn-was-my-right-arm-my-left-arm-all-the-eyes-in-the-back/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Billy Strayhorn is my right arm, my left arm, and the six eyes in the back of my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/billy-strayhorn-is-my-right-arm-my-left-arm-and-the-six-eyes-in-the/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [In music, as you develop a theme or musical idea, there are many points at which directions must be decided, and at any time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-ellington/in-music-as-you-develop-a-theme-or-musical-idea-there-are-many-points/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-ellington/) > [Don't worry about the game you just won or the team that we just blew out... or, um... blown... blowed out... Let's think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmitt-smith/don-t-worry-about-the-game-you-just-won-or-the-team-that-we-just-blew/) [Emmitt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmitt-smith/) > [“I'll admit,I may have carried a torch for him all these years.He just blew it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/i-ll-admit-i-may-have-carried-a-torch-for-him-all-these-years-he-just/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“What are you doing out here, Kat?" Several moments passed before I could speak "I just blew up a bunch of windows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/what-are-you-doing-out-here-kat-several-moments-passed-before-i-could/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Filming with Laura Prepon, Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, it just blew my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-brewer/filming-with-laura-prepon-taylor-schilling-natasha-lyonne-it-just/) [Madeline Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-brewer/) > [Metro Station, it was a crazy experience, because I felt like we just blew up really fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-cyrus/metro-station-it-was-a-crazy-experience-because-i-felt-like-we-just/) [Trace Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-cyrus/) > [I'm out my mind, just blew a thousand swisher sweets. In my black and orange charger, call it trick or treat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/i-m-out-my-mind-just-blew-a-thousand-swisher-sweets-in-my-black-and/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [Breaking News: Winds so strong in NYC The Statue of Liberty's gown just blew off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/breaking-news-winds-so-strong-in-nyc-the-statue-of-liberty-s-gown/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [I turned up for my first day training with England Under-19s super excited, and I just happened to bang my knee on the floor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/i-turned-up-for-my-first-day-training-with-england-under-19s-super/) [Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/) > [Wo wo wo what the f\*\*k was that, you just blew me off, you think I can't afford this penile implant on wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-moody/wo-wo-wo-what-the-f-k-was-that-you-just-blew-me-off-you-think-i-can-t/) [Hank Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-moody/) ## More by Gerry Mulligan > [I've appeared on some other people's albums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-ve-appeared-on-some-other-people-s-albums/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I've always wanted a C trumpet on top, to have that same kind of facility without shouting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-ve-always-wanted-a-c-trumpet-on-top-to-have-that-same-kind-of/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [When we've finished the current tour I'm going to go back to Italy and see if I can do some more writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-we-ve-finished-the-current-tour-i-m-going-to-go-back-to-italy/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Miles Davis is one who writes songs when he plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/miles-davis-is-one-who-writes-songs-when-he-plays/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Only the French, I guess, really use tenor and alto to any great extent in the orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/only-the-french-i-guess-really-use-tenor-and-alto-to-any-great-extent/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Because if you've got the wit, you can make anything into a melody, ultimately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/because-if-you-ve-got-the-wit-you-can-make-anything-into-a-melody/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Then, of course, I played alto and tenor, wherever there were jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/then-of-course-i-played-alto-and-tenor-wherever-there-were-jobs/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Now, the instrumentation in the jazz band and the jazz dance band has gone through many evolutions. For instance, in the 'twenties the tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/now-the-instrumentation-in-the-jazz-band-and-the-jazz-dance-band-has/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [So I played alto for quite a while until I saved up the money for the baritone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/so-i-played-alto-for-quite-a-while-until-i-saved-up-the-money-for-the/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [Life on the road is murder. It's as though life begins and ends when you have your horn in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/life-on-the-road-is-murder-it-s-as-though-life-begins-and-ends-when/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [The other saxophones, except as solo instruments, really don't have much point in the orchestra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/the-other-saxophones-except-as-solo-instruments-really-don-t-have/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I'm fascinated with the electronic devices that we can mess around with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-m-fascinated-with-the-electronic-devices-that-we-can-mess-around/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I would think, of all the saxophones, the baritone would be the most logical instrument if anybody was adding a voice to the symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-would-think-of-all-the-saxophones-the-baritone-would-be-the-most/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I like what I hear other guys doing, but the thing that really attracts me is melodic playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-like-what-i-hear-other-guys-doing-but-the-thing-that-really/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [The first reason for starting to do the symphony concerts was to play this new piece of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/the-first-reason-for-starting-to-do-the-symphony-concerts-was-to-play/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) [Explore all 35 Gerry Mulligan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) ## More Billy quotes > [“When I first met Billy I thought about sucking his eyes right out of their sockets. They’re like turquoise gum drops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-treggiari/when-i-first-met-billy-i-thought-about-sucking-his-eyes-right-out-of/) [Jo Treggiari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-treggiari/) > [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > ['Billy Elliot' embodies the idea that anyone can achieve anything regardless of their socio-economic background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fellner/billy-elliot-embodies-the-idea-that-anyone-can-achieve-anything/) [Eric Fellner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fellner/) > [Look at Greg Jbara! I've watched him work for years, always switching. He's literally a different human being when he's onstage in 'Billy Elliot.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-chase/look-at-greg-jbara-i-ve-watched-him-work-for-years-always-switching/) [Will Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-chase/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [“That last voice in his head. It hadn't been Billy's. It was his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/that-last-voice-in-his-head-it-hadn-t-been-billy-s-it-was-his-own/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [It is said that a hundred gamecocks will live in perfect harmony together it you do not put a hen with them; and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/it-is-said-that-a-hundred-gamecocks-will-live-in-perfect-harmony/) [Augustus Baldwin Longstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/) > [I think you and the referee were in a minority of one, Billy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-armfield/i-think-you-and-the-referee-were-in-a-minority-of-one-billy/) [Jimmy Armfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-armfield/) > [“Most Tralfamadorians had no way of knowing Billy's body and face were not beautiful. They supposed that he was a splendid specimen. This had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/most-tralfamadorians-had-no-way-of-knowing-billy-s-body-and-face-were/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [My great-grandfather was a variety hall comedian called Billy Mack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/my-great-grandfather-was-a-variety-hall-comedian-called-billy-mack/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [“Billy's at 44 north, 56 west and heading straight into meteorological hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/billy-s-at-44-north-56-west-and-heading-straight-into-meteorological/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [I can tell you the actor who I admire the most. Billy Crudup. Do you know who he is? He's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/i-can-tell-you-the-actor-who-i-admire-the-most-billy-crudup-do-you/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [When they told me there would be a statue erected at Wrigley Field, I was happy with that. I know there will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-williams/when-they-told-me-there-would-be-a-statue-erected-at-wrigley-field-i/) [Billy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-williams/) Browse all 228 Billy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When [Billy] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerry Mulligan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-he-just-blew-us-away/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-he-just-blew-us-away/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/gerry-mulligan-18101_billy_when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-h_520448.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When [Billy] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away.” — Gerry Mulligan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gerry Mulligan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When [Billy] Strayhorn came on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-he-just-blew-us-away/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-he-just-blew-us-away/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```