Research Catalog

Title

Mary Lou Williams "Music on My Mind" documentary collection.

Author

Williams, Mary Lou, 1910-1981.

Supplementary Content

Finding aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

1.4 linear feet (2.5 archival boxes)

Summary

The collection contains materials used to create the Mary Lou Williams documentary, "Music on My Mind," directed by Joanne Burke. "Music on My Mind" focuses on Williams's enduring contribution to American culture as a jazz pianist, composer, and vocalist. This collection includes a short autobiography (incomplete), transcripts of interviews, information on the financial support of the documentary, film technical edits, reel catalog, and an information kit about the documentary.

Subjects

• Williams, Mary Lou, 1910-1981
• Jazz musicians > United States
• African American women entertainers
• Jazz singers > United States
• African American jazz musicians
• Women jazz musicians
• Independent filmmakers > United States
• African American women jazz singers
• African American women in popular culture
• Black author
• Women singers > United States
• African American musicians
• Burke, Joanne
• Documentary films > Production and direction
• Popular music > United States > 1971-1980
• African American women singers

Source (note)

• Joanne Burke

Biography (note)

• Mary Lou Williams was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1910 and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a child she taught herself to play piano and began working in vaudeville at the age of thirteen. In the 1930s, Williams began performing with Andy Kirk's the Clouds of Joy, a Kansas City band. She also composed for bandleaders such as Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. In 1942, she settled in Harlem, New York City where she performed at a Greenwich Village nightclub. Williams was known for Incorporating bebop style in her music, and creating longer pieces, such as "Zodiac Suite." In the late 1950s, Williams converted to Catholicism which served as the inspiration to compose sacred pieces and several masses, including "Mary Lou's Mass."
• Williams passed away at the age of 71 on May 28, 1981, due to bladder cancer. She left behind more than 350 compositions, and is primarily noted as one of the first African-American woman to gain prominence in jazz.

Call Number

SC MG 922

OCLC

953300590

Author

Williams, Mary Lou, 1910-1981.

Title

Mary Lou Williams "Music on My Mind" documentary collection.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

volume

Biography

Mary Lou Williams was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1910 and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a child she taught herself to play piano and began working in vaudeville at the age of thirteen. In the 1930s, Williams began performing with Andy Kirk's the Clouds of Joy, a Kansas City band. She also composed for bandleaders such as Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. In 1942, she settled in Harlem, New York City where she performed at a Greenwich Village nightclub. Williams was known for Incorporating bebop style in her music, and creating longer pieces, such as "Zodiac Suite." In the late 1950s, Williams converted to Catholicism which served as the inspiration to compose sacred pieces and several masses, including "Mary Lou's Mass."

Williams passed away at the age of 71 on May 28, 1981, due to bladder cancer. She left behind more than 350 compositions, and is primarily noted as one of the first African-American woman to gain prominence in jazz.

Connect to:

Finding aid

Local Subject

Black author.

Research Call Number

SC MG 922