"She fought to create in a world that could not see past her race or gender"
Jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams was a genius ahead of her time. From child prodigy to "Boogie-Woogie Queen" to groundbreaking composer to mentoring some of the greatest musicians of all time, she never ceased to astound those who heard her play. But for a Black woman in the early 1900s, life as a star did not come easy.
Self (archive footage)
Mary Lou Williams (voice)
John Williams (voice)
Andy Kirk (voice)
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Self - Performer
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Barney Josephson / Critic (voice)
Critic (voice)