Mary lived in Durham North Carolina
where she was professor of Music at Duke University. Towards the end of 1980 the
cancer Mary thought she had overcome returned. (Paul Bryan): "There is an unfortunate thing
that Mary Lou went into the hospital last night and apparently is in difficult enough shape
that she won't be able to come tonight. We were hoping that maybe she could come around
7:00 or so and at the very least listen." Throughout her illness, Mary continued to work. She was in the m
idst of composing a Wind
Symphony called, The History of Jazz." The rehearsal was recorded for her. (Paul Bryan): "one, two, three..." (Father Peter O'Brien): "Paul added..."
(Mary Lou Williams): "That 's the right tempo. " (Father Peter O'Brien): "It's little too slow ..."
(Mary Lou Williams): "No it is the other one should be faster, so you got this." (Father Peter O'Brien):
"The girls were so cute." Mary Lou died on May 28th,
1981-- 3 weeks after her 71st birthday.
Comments