[Dixielandjazz] NIGHT TRAIN

[Bill Haesler]

BOYER DONALD wrote:
> I had wondered also why Ellington never did anything about Forrest using his tune.  I remember several years ago a radio show on NPR I think consisting of a discussion of Ellington and Strayhorn's compositions.  The comment was made on that program that Ellington did not want to take another Black to court and he said that "He could write a little piddly tune like that anytime'!  The quote was like that I know the word "piddly" was used!

Dear Don,
In the 1971 Stanley Dance book 'The World of Duke' (page 22) Duke Ellington was asked in 1963:
"Does it worry you that they may take some of your material and make something different of it under the rock 'n' roll label?"
The Duke's reply was: "They did that with "Night Train". They took "Happy-Go-Lucky Local". It hurts and it's offensive. You threaten to sue, and you postpone until it's too late, and then you get real mad. You do nothing but spoil your disposition."

Without mentioning names or the title, Mercer Ellington told Stanley Dance (1978. 'Duke Ellington In Person'. Page 96) regarding "Happy-Go-Lucky Local": "Later, bearing someone else's name and a different title, it became a big hit, one of the many instances of shameless "borrowing" from Ellington's compositions. He didn't like this, and I don't think he ever forgave it, but he managed to put it out of his mind."

Very kind regards,
Bill.