JustSheetMusic
Portrait of Mary Lou Williams

Composer

Mary Lou Williams

American jazz pianist and composer (1910–1981)

1910–1981

32 works in the index

Born
1910
Died
1981
Birthplace
Atlanta
Place of death
Durham
Citizenship / historical state
United States
Period (estimated from birth year)
Modern

Biography

Mary Lou Williams (born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs; May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records (in 78, 45, and LP versions). Williams wrote and arranged for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and she was friend, mentor, and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, and Dizzy Gillespie.

She has been noted for her 1954 conversion to Catholicism, which led to a musical hiatus and a later transformation in the nature of her music. She continued to perform and work as a philanthropist, educator, and youth mentor until her death from bladder cancer in 1981.

Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.

Source revision used for this excerpt

Life and musical career

Occupations
jazz pianist; composer; bandleader; teacher; recording artist; pianist; music arranger; musician
Education
Westinghouse High School
Career institutions / employers
Duke University
Instruments played
piano
Genres
jazz; classical music; free jazz; hard bop; swing; gospel music; big band music
Awards
Guggenheim Fellowship; honorary doctor of Fordham University
Birth name
Mary Elfrieda Scruggs
Native languages
English
Languages used
English
VIAF ID
105289239
ISNI
0000000082867900
GND ID
122051920
Library of Congress ID
n82025133
MusicBrainz ID
4a0c1055-ec66-47a0-a668-c60f48477ed2

Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Piano
Genres represented
Jazz
Works with composition dates
0 of 32

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
Special Freight — —— PianoJazz 2
Little Joe From Chicago — —— PianoJazz 2
Twinklin' — —— —Jazz 1
Chili Sauce — —— —Jazz 1
Bobo and Doodles — —— —Jazz 1
Walkin' — —— —Jazz 1
The Duke and the Count — —— —Jazz 2
Deuces Wild — —— —Jazz 1
Roll 'Em: E — —— —— 2
Roll 'Em: 2nd B — —— —— 2
Lullaby in Rhythm — —— —Jazz 1
Mary Lou Williams: Great Piano Solos — —— —Jazz 1
In a Mist — —— —Jazz 2
I Never Knew — —— —Jazz 1
Runnin' Wild — —— —Jazz 1
The Moon is Low — —— —Jazz 1
Roll 'Em: Piano Accompaniment — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: Solo Clarinet — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 2nd E — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: B — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 1st B — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 3rd B — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 4th B — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 1st Trombone — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 2nd Trombone — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: 3rd Trombone — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: Guitar — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: String Bass — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: Drums — —— —— 1
Roll 'Em: Score — —— —— 1
Camel Hop — —— —— 0
Walkin' & Swingin' — —— —Jazz 1

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 105289239. Portrait: William P. Gottlieb / Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.