Morning glory: a biography of Mary Lou Williams
(Book)
Author:
Published:
New York : Pantheon Books, [1999].
Format:
Book
Edition:
1st ed.
ISBN:
0375408991
Physical Desc:
viii, 463 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Status:
Pitkin County Library
780.92 WILLIAMS, M. D131
Description
Mary Lou Williams — pianist, arranger, composer, and probably the most influential woman in the history of jazz — receives the attention she has long deserved in the definitive biography by a leading scholar of women in jazz. The illegitimate child of an impoverished and indifferent mother, Williams began performing publicly at the age of seven when she became known admiringly in her native Pittsburgh as "the little piano girl of East Liberty," playing one day for the Mellons at bridge teas and the next in gambling dens where the hat was passed for change. She grew up with the jazz of the early part of the century, championed by the likes of Earl Hines and Fats Waller, yet unlike so many other musicians of her time, she was open to new forms in jazz — she was an early champion of bop, and a mentor and colleague to its central figures, such as Thelonius Monk and Bud Powell — and in broader musical styles as well (after her conversion to Catholicism, she wrote masses and other sacred music). Most of the other famous women in jazz — Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald —  have been singers. Williams was instead a phenomenal pianist who performed solo, with small groups and big bands, in vaudeville and clubs, and on numerous records. But she is equally well known today as a composer and arranger of remarkable versatility and power, having worked with, among others, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman. Her compositions have been recorded by artisits as varied as Marian McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat "King" Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and herself — and, more recently, by cutting-edge players Geri Allen and Dave Douglas. But Williams was more than "just a musician"; her interests were catholic in both senses, and she struggled to combine her love of music with her love of God. She was a tireless humanitarian, and made ongoing attempts to help dozens of down-and-out musicians; in the 1950s, her apartment was, at times, virtually a rehab. Though she was often in emotional despair, she found comfort for her many disappointments and hurts not only in her music but in her spirituality. Linda Dahl, granted unprecedented access to the large Williams archive, has given us the whole of Williams's very full life, from her often harrowing days on the road to her tumultuous marriages and love affairs, from the ups and downs of her unique fifty-year career to the remarkable spirituality that came to inform both her daily life and her music. This is a striking protrait of one of our least understood and most important musicians.
Copies
Location
Call Number
Status
Last Check-In
Pitkin County Library
780.92 WILLIAMS, M. D131
On Shelf
Jan 27, 2004
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Subjects
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More Details
Language:
English
Notes
Bibliography
Discography: pages [400]-431.
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 396-399) and index.
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)
Dahl, L. (1999). Morning glory: a biography of Mary Lou Williams. New York, Pantheon Books.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)Dahl, Linda, 1949-. 1999. Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams. New York, Pantheon Books.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)Dahl, Linda, 1949-, Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams. New York, Pantheon Books, 1999.
MLA Citation (style guide)Dahl, Linda. Morning Glory: A Biography of Mary Lou Williams. New York, Pantheon Books, 1999.
Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
4b918d75-ae2c-9ad1-e658-0710da3a22c5
Record Information
Last Sierra Extract Time | Apr 23, 2024 09:01:30 PM |
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Last File Modification Time | Apr 23, 2024 09:01:57 PM |
Last Grouped Work Modification Time | Apr 23, 2024 09:01:38 PM |
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