Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981)
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Famed jazz composer & pianist. A child prodigy, she grew up in this city; went to Lincoln School here, 1919-23. Played for Andy Kirk in 1930s; then arranged music for Duke Ellington and others. Major works include "Zodiac Suite" and "Mary Lou's Mass."
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
A child prodigy who grew up on Pittsburgh's streets and attended its Lincoln School in the early 1920s, Mary Lou Williams became one of jazz's great composers and pianists. She played for Andy Kirk's band in the 1930s and went on to arrange for Duke Ellington and other giants of the era, shaping the sound of American music across decades. Her ambitious works, from the "Zodiac Suite" to her sacred "Mary Lou's Mass," carried jazz into the concert hall and the cathedral alike.
Why it matters
Williams was a rare woman at the creative center of jazz composition and arranging, mentoring generations of musicians and expanding the reach of a distinctly American art form.
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Related people
- · Mary Lou Williams
- · Andy Kirk
- · Duke Ellington
Themes & tags
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