Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams was a pianist, composer, professor, teacher, and bandleader from the United States . She was born as Mary Elfrieda Scruggs in Atlanta on May 8, 1910 , and she passed away in Durham, North Carolina, on May 28, 1981 .

Williams was educated at Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh . Throughout her career, she was active in various genres, including big band, free jazz, swing music, gospel music, hard bop, classical music, and jazz . Her career in the music industry included stints as a musician, working with artists like Johnny Parker, a jazz pianist .