Mary Lou Williams (May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist… Read Full Bio ↴Mary Lou Williams (May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. She was born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a very young child she taught herself to play the piano (her first public performance was at the age of six). She became a professional musician in her teens.
In 1930, she joined Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, of which her first husband, saxophonist John Williams, was already a member, and became the band's leading soloist, composer, and arranger. Williams contributed to the band book of most of the other swing bands too; for Benny Goodman she wrote "Roll 'Em".
In 1941 she worked as a staff arranger with Duke Ellington for about six months, although "Trumpet No End" (an arrangement derived from the standard "Blue Skies") was not recorded by Ellington until 1946. In 1942 she formed her own group with her second husband Harold Shorty Baker and also continued working as a solo act into the 1970s, incorporating modern ideas into her playing. As the 1940s progressed she became a mentor to the emerging generation of bebop, becoming close to Thelonious Monk.
On a personal front she had a varied spiritual journey which included preaching as an Abyssinian Baptist for a time. However by the mid-1950s a jazz-loving priest named John Crowley, not to be confused with the author John Crowley, began her move toward Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Harlem.
Her spiritual advisor in the Church would be Father Anthony S. Woods who baptized her in 1957. After this she became involved in charities like "Bel Canto" and had thrift shops for the poor, also becoming a counsellor for people with drug related problems. She wrote and performed religious music like Black Christ of the Andes. She vowed to donate ten percent of its profits to the poor, but the sales were disappointing toward that end and Bel Canto ultimately collapsed in 1968. Her evangelism returned to spreading jazz, but the two drives merged in the 1970s when she conducted the first Catholic Mass to be entirely jazz music.
She taught at Duke University as an Artist-in-Residence from 1977 until her death in 1981 from cancer at the age of 71.
In 1976 Williams received a D.F.A. from Bates College. In 1983, Duke University established the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture.
In 1930, she joined Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, of which her first husband, saxophonist John Williams, was already a member, and became the band's leading soloist, composer, and arranger. Williams contributed to the band book of most of the other swing bands too; for Benny Goodman she wrote "Roll 'Em".
In 1941 she worked as a staff arranger with Duke Ellington for about six months, although "Trumpet No End" (an arrangement derived from the standard "Blue Skies") was not recorded by Ellington until 1946. In 1942 she formed her own group with her second husband Harold Shorty Baker and also continued working as a solo act into the 1970s, incorporating modern ideas into her playing. As the 1940s progressed she became a mentor to the emerging generation of bebop, becoming close to Thelonious Monk.
On a personal front she had a varied spiritual journey which included preaching as an Abyssinian Baptist for a time. However by the mid-1950s a jazz-loving priest named John Crowley, not to be confused with the author John Crowley, began her move toward Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Harlem.
Her spiritual advisor in the Church would be Father Anthony S. Woods who baptized her in 1957. After this she became involved in charities like "Bel Canto" and had thrift shops for the poor, also becoming a counsellor for people with drug related problems. She wrote and performed religious music like Black Christ of the Andes. She vowed to donate ten percent of its profits to the poor, but the sales were disappointing toward that end and Bel Canto ultimately collapsed in 1968. Her evangelism returned to spreading jazz, but the two drives merged in the 1970s when she conducted the first Catholic Mass to be entirely jazz music.
She taught at Duke University as an Artist-in-Residence from 1977 until her death in 1981 from cancer at the age of 71.
In 1976 Williams received a D.F.A. from Bates College. In 1983, Duke University established the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture.
Boogie Misterioso
Mary Lou Williams Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Mary Lou Williams:
'round about midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
'S Wonderful Don't mind telling you, in my humble fash That you thrill…
All God's Children Got Rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see me…
Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
Blue Skies Blue skies smilin' at me Nothin' but blue skies do I…
Bye Bye Blues I got a big surprise when I saw you smile I…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Devil I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
He's Funny That Way Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
It's the Talk of the Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, It'…
Just You Just Me Just you, just me Let's find a cozy spot To cuddle and…
Love For Sale I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Lover You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Lover come back to me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Moonglow It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue It…
Oh! Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
One I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
OverThe Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
People In Trouble Why do they think up stories that link my name…
Perdido Ste es el Remix Amantes o amigos Hace tiempo que estaba por…
Round About Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
Sheik Of Araby "I'm the Sheik of Araby, Your love belongs to me. At…
Skies Are Blue Blue skies smilin' at me Nothin' but blue skies do I…
St. James Infirmary It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
St. Martin de Porres St. Martin de Porres, his shepherd's staff a dusty broom St.…
Stardust Part 1 And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Taking A Chance On Love Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again. All…
Talk Of The Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, It'…
The Blues Blue skies smilin' at me Nothin' but blue skies do I…
The Devil I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
The Sheik Of Araby "I'm the Sheik of Araby, Your love belongs to me. At…
There's A Small Hotel I'd like to get away, Junior Somewhere alone with you It cou…
Until The Real Thing Comes Along I'd work for you, I'd even slave for you I'd be…
What's Your Story Morning Glory? #2 What's your story, morning glory What makes you look so blu…
Would I Love You {french} Tu m'as donné Paris Ah oui ! C'était écrit Tandis q…
yesterday's kisses Blue skies smilin' at me Nothin' but blue skies do…
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