Take the "A" Train recorded an intentionally inept interpretation of the song under the pseudonym Darlene Edwards. In 1999, National Public Radio included this song in the "NPR 100", in which NPR's music editors sought to compile the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century. Take the "A" Train "Take the 'A' Train" is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. The use of the Strayhorn composition as the signature tune was made necessary by a ruling in 1940 by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). When ASCAP
Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live in 1941. In addition to Ellington himself, notable soloists included Ben Webster, Jimmy Blanton, Johnny Hodges, Rex Stewart, and Tricky Sam Nanton. Trumpeter Ray Nance had recently joined the band after Cootie Williams had left to play with Benny Goodman and, the night of the concert, Ellington told Towers that his trumpet section was in "rough shape". The concert included the first performance of "Star Dust" by the band as a whole. After the show, Towers and Burris played parts of the recording for Ellington and his bandmates. Jack Towers later said, "When Dick and I recorded this Fargo performance,