Biography
Mary Lou Williams was a pioneering American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger born on May 8, 1910, in Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in Pittsburgh, where she began playing piano at a young age, displaying prodigious talent. By the time she was ten, she was known as 'the Little Piano Girl' and was performing for small audiences. Her professional career started early, with her first big band performance at age 12. Williams married saxophonist John Overton Williams at 17 and eventually joined Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, becoming a key figure in the jazz scene with her innovative compositions and arrangements. She was a versatile musician, excelling in stride, swing, and bebop styles. In the 1950s, Williams experienced a spiritual awakening, leading her to compose sacred music and establish the Bel Canto Foundation to support musicians in recovery. She taught at Duke University from 1977 until her death in 1981, leaving a legacy as a groundbreaking artist who challenged traditional perceptions of jazz, gender, and race. Williams' contributions to jazz include over 300 original compositions and numerous arrangements for prominent artists like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman. Her influence extended beyond music, as she played a significant role in fostering Black culture and faculty at Duke University. Williams' apartment became a hub for younger musicians, including Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, who were influenced by her work and mentorship.
Fun Facts
- Mary Lou Williams was known as 'the Little Piano Girl' by age ten due to her prodigious talent.
- She took over her husband's band, The Syncopators, when he left for another opportunity.
- Williams composed three jazz masses and other religious anthems, blending jazz with sacred music.
- Her apartment became a gathering place for influential jazz musicians like Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk.
Associated Acts
- Mary Lou Williams and Her Kansas City Seven
- Mary Lou Williams Trio
- Mary Lou and Her Chosen Five - eponymous, original
- Jeanette’s Synco Jazzers
- John Williams’ Synco Jazzers
- Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy
- Mildred Bailey & Her Oxford Greys - piano
- John Williams' Memphis Stompers
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Her Mother - Early piano instruction (None) [Early childhood]
Key Collaborators
- Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy - Band member and arranger (Froggy Bottom, Walkin' and Swingin') [1920s-1940s]
- Duke Ellington - Arrangements for his band (Trumpet No End) [1930s-1940s]
- Benny Goodman - Arrangements for his band (Various swing era pieces) [1930s-1940s]
Artists Influenced
- Charlie Parker - Mentorship and influence (None) [1940s]
- Thelonious Monk - Mentorship and influence (None) [1940s]
- Dizzy Gillespie - Mentorship and influence (None) [1940s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Early Jazz (Remastered) | 2013-02-28 | Album |
| Mary Lou Williams Presents Black Christ of the Andes | 1964 | Album |
| ...and then you shoot your cousin | 2014-05-16 | Album |
| Free Spirits | 1987 | Album |
| My Mama Pinned A Rose On Me | 2005-08-30 | Album |
| I Made You Love Paris | 2000-01-01 | Album |
| Zodiac Suite | 1995-10-17 | Album |
| Story of mary lou williams | 1997 | Album |
| Mary Lou Williams | 1964-01-01 | Album |
| Jazz After Midnight | 2013-04-15 | Album |
| Mary Lou Williams Plays in London (Jazz Connoisseur) | 1953 | Album |
| Free Spirits | 1987 | Album |
| 1930-1941 | 2008-07-28 | Album |
| Zoning | 1995-10-17 | Album |
| Complete Jazz Series 1927 - 1940 | 2009-09-14 | Album |
Top Tracks
- It Ain't Necessarily So
- It Ain't Necessarily So - Remastered (Early Jazz (Remastered))
- It Ain’t Necessarily So (Mary Lou Williams Presents Black Christ of the Andes)
- Pale Blue (Free Spirits)
- My Blue Heaven (Mary Lou Williams Presents Black Christ of the Andes)
- I Made You Love Paris (I Made You Love Paris)
- What's Your Story Morning Glory (My Mama Pinned A Rose On Me)
- Love Roots (My Mama Pinned A Rose On Me)
- Night life (Story of mary lou williams)
- It Ain't Necessarily So (Jazz After Midnight)
External Links
Tags: #bebop, #jazz, #stride
Heard on WWOZ
Mary Lou Williams has been played 5 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2025 | 21:36 | Praise the Lord | R&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | 16:56 | Autumn In New Yorkfrom LADIES OF JAZZ | Sitting Inw/ Elizabeth Meneray | |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 23:50 | Praise the Lord | Kitchen Sinkw/ Jennifer Brady | |
| Oct 28, 2025 | 07:12 | It Ain't Necessarily So | The Morning Setw/ Fox Duhon or Mark LaMaire | |
| Oct 21, 2025 | 23:00 | Praise the Lordfrom Oxford American - Up South | The Freaknologist Lunatique Showw/ David Kunian |