Mary Lou Williams (born May 8, 1910 in Atlanta, Georgia; died May 28, 1981 in Durham, North Carolina) was an American jazz stride pianist, composer, and arranger. Williams had written hundreds of compositions or arrangements, and recorded over a hundred records (in 78, 45, and LP versions).Kernodle, Tammy L. Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams, (2004) ISBN 1555536069 Williams wrote and arranged for such greats as Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and she was friend, mentor, and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. Remarkable versatility and power, and probably the most influential woman in the history of jazz. Life and career Born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was one of eleven children. As a very young child she taught herself to play the piano (her first public perfo

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