https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY

The first (and most famous) commercial recording was made on February 15, 1941. "Take the 'A' Train" was composed in 1939, after Ellington offered Strayhorn a job in his organization and gave him money to travel from Pittsburgh to New York City. Ellington wrote directions for Strayhorn to get to his house by subway.