Take the "A" Train 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 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 at the time. Ellington turned to Billy Strayhorn and son Mercer Ellington, who were registered with ASCAP
Erik Ellington a Mike Carroll signature model skateboard deck in response. Ellington first appeared in zero skateboards "Thrill of it All". Prior to this, he had appeared in the "Friends" section of the Toy Machine video, "Welcome to Hell", but the part was uncredited. Ellington had relocated from San Diego to Tempe around the same time that he was recruited by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas, the founder and owner of Zero. He explained the initial development of his relationship with Thomas: Erik co-funded Supra footwear in 2006. The company released six different Ellington signature skate shoe designs, with the sixth model, "The