Published:
2011-10-01
Updated:
2020-02-11
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Satin Doll
Satin Doll - is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953, the song has been recorded countless times, by such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, 101 Strings, and Nancy Wilson. Its chord progression is well known for its unusual use of chords and opening with a ii-V-I turnaround.
Author(s): Publisher: Code: UL417
Main Category: Jazz Main Instrument: Any
2026-08-19
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Satin Doll - is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953, the song has been recorded countless times, by such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, 101 Strings, and Nancy Wilson. Its chord progression is well known for its unusual use of chords and opening with a ii-V-I turnaround.
Johnny Mercer was often asked to write lyrics to already popular songs. The lyrics to Satin Doll
were written after the song was already a hit in its instrumental version. Ellington used Satin Doll as the closing number at most of his concerts.
Satin Doll is in the The Daily Ukulele Leap Year — 366 Songs for Better Living book.
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 366 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
Satin Doll is in the
Real Book - Volume 1
— Sixth Edition book.
It is possible that the music was not co-composed by Ellington but solely by pianist-arranger Billy Strayhorn, who worked closely with Ellington.
The popular 1950s group, The Gaylords had a minor hit with their recording of Satin Doll in 1958.
( From www.jazzstandards.com ) - As a jazz standard, Early in 1953, Duke Ellington left Columbia Records to sign with Capitol Records, a company he felt would more effectively promote his music. On April 6, the band had their first Capitol recording session, producing Satin Doll, Without a Song, and Cocktails for Two. Satin Doll, with its Ellington piano solo, was a modest hit, entering the pop charts in June and rising to number twenty-seven.
How About More Uke?
Satin Doll is on Curt's, 2015 How About More Uke?, The Curt Sheller Jazz Trio CD.
Curt, your CD was fantastic. You are among the ukulele masters of our day.
— John K.
Satin Doll
Inspired by Kenny Burrell's recording.
Premium Play-along Tracks are only available to Premium
members and Active/Private Students.
Here is a Demo of Desafinado to get an idea of the quality of these custom play-along tracks.
Play-along Demo: Desafinado
Desafinado — Premium Play-along Track with Guitar Melody Played
I, (Curt) originally created these tracks to perform over for gigs and this was a demo for booking gigs.
These Premium Play-along Tracks are available to LearningUkulele.com & Learning Ukulele with Curt. Site Members and are my personal one-of-kind tracks I (Curt) and Chuck Anderson recorded and arranged last century.