19 Quotes by Mary Lou Williams

Offers for me to play dances, society parties, even churches, were now coming in regularly. For most dates I was paid the sum of one dollar per hour, and they always tipped me at the end of the night.

During the years I was with Andy Kirk we starved almost. I remember not eating for practically a month several times. But we were very, very happy because the music was so interesting, and you forgot to eat, anyway.

It's not what you play, it's how you play it.

I wonder what an agent would do if he had to travel with the band he's booking.

Anything you are shows up in your music – jazz is whatever you are, playing yourself, being yourself, letting your thoughts come through.

It’s not what you play, it’s how you play it.

Quite a few musicians came to our house. And my ma took me to hear many more, hoping to encourage in me a love of music. But she wouldnt consent to my having music lessons, for she feared I might end up as she had done – unable to play except from paper.

I wonder what an agent would do if he had to travel with the band he’s booking.

One way and another I was having a ball – playing gigs, jamming and listening to fine musicians. Then came a crisis at home. My stepfather fell sick, and it meant I had to support the family.