Women's History Month Featured Leader: Mary Lou Williams

In March, we’re featuring an influential woman every day in honor of Women’s History Month.
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Today we’re celebrating:

Mary Lou Williams

Pianist and composer (1910 – 1981)
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• Known as the “First Lady of Jazz,” Williams wrote hundreds of arrangements and compositions and recorded over a hundred records
• Made major contributions to the Kansas City swing style of big band jazz
• Friend, teacher, and mentor to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, and Dizzy Gillespie
• Later taught at Duke University and the University of Massachusetts