--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's all I did - that's all I ever did…" description: "\"That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what Billy Strayhorn did.\" — Gil Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg" --- # That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what… ![“That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what Billy Strayhorn did.” quote by Gil Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg) > “That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what Billy Strayhorn did.” [Gil Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates emulating the dedication and style of Billy Strayhorn, suggesting one should strive for similar artistic excellence. **In simple terms:** Model your work after Billy Strayhorn. Key Takeaway Aim for Strayhorn‑like mastery. Themes artistic inspiration dedication musical influence Mood inspirational reflective Type Billy:1 Funny:0 Inspirational:1 Love:0 Trying:0 Billy Strayhorn:1 Try Billy:0 When to use this quote - music performance - composing - studying great artists Key Concepts learning from masters creative practice personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What qualities of Strayhorn inspire you? - How can you apply his approach to your field? A Different Perspective May be too niche for those unfamiliar with Strayhorn. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy/) [Billy Strayhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy-strayhorn-1335591/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Try Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-billy-1335592/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [ When \[Billy\] Strayhorn came on the scene, he just blew us away. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-billy-strayhorn-came-on-the-scene-he-just-blew-us-away/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > ['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/) > [ 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/) > [“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/) ## More by Gil Evans > [Bob Moses, composer, drummer, poet, artist, conceptualizer, inspirer of people, has created a musical environment that is balanced between discipline and freedom, compositional design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-evans/bob-moses-composer-drummer-poet-artist-conceptualizer-inspirer-of/) [Gil Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-evans/) [Explore all 2 Gil Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-evans/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what Billy Strayhorn did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gil Evans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-evans/that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-try-to-do-what-billy-strayhorn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-evans/that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-try-to-do-what-billy-strayhorn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/gil-evans-100975_funny_that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-t_911184.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's all I did - that's all I ever did - try to do what Billy Strayhorn did.” — Gil Evans", "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": "Gil Evans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-evans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's all I did - that's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-evans/that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-try-to-do-what-billy-strayhorn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-evans/that-s-all-i-did-that-s-all-i-ever-did-try-to-do-what-billy-strayhorn/#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 } } ] } ```