Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band

She fought to create in a world that could not see past her race or gender

Apr 1, 2015 · 1h 10m

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.

Directed by Carol Bash