艾靈頓也許不需要他人幫助譜寫樂曲，但他與斯特雷霍恩的搭檔卻被視為美國音樂史上最重要的組合。斯特雷霍恩於1939年加入樂團，與艾靈頓共同作曲、編寫了一些極為有名的作品，包括樂團主題曲「乘上A號列車」(Take the 'A' Train)。他們兩人的合作是如此的順遂，甚至可以透過電話寫歌。在艾靈頓的自傳「音樂是我的情人」(Music Is My Mistress) 中，他形容斯特雷霍恩為「…我的右手，我的左手， 留心我沒注意到的事，我的腦波深植他的腦中，反之亦然」。
　

Ellington may not have needed help writing music, but his partnership with Billy Strayhorn is considered one of the most important in American music. Strayhorn, who joined the band in 1939, composed and co-wrote some of the most famous pieces associated with Ellington, including the band's theme song, "Take the 'A' Train." Their partnership worked so smoothly that they were even able to write songs over the telephone. In his autobiography, Music Is My Mistress, Ellington refers to Strayhorn as "...my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brainwaves in his head, and his in mine."

2 / 3 頁