a biography of the day-marian mcpartland (jazz pianist, npr jazz host, composer)

[niyad]

Marian McPartland

Birth name Margaret Marian Turner
Born 20 March 1918 (age 95)
Origin Slough, England, UK
Genres Classical jazz
Cool jazz
Bebop
Mainstream jazz
Swing music
Post bop
Standards
Occupations Pianist
Radio host
Writer
Composer
Instruments Piano
Years active 1938–present
Labels Halcyon Records
Concord Jazz
Jazz Alliance
Bainbridge Records
Savoy Records
Capitol Records
RCA Records
Associated acts Jimmy McPartland
Hickory House Trio
Notable instruments
Baldwin SF10 Artist Grand[1]

Margaret Marian McPartland, OBE (née Turner;[2] born 20 March 1918), is an English-born jazz pianist, composer, writer, and was the host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on National Public Radio until she stepped down[3] on 10 November 2011.
. . . .
Early life

Marian Turner was a musical prodigy from the time she could sit at the piano, about the age of three. She studied classical music and the violin, in addition to the piano.
She pursued classical studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Much to the dismay of her family, she developed a love for American jazz and musicians such as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Mary Lou Williams, and many others. In 1938, despite her family's efforts to keep her at Guildhall, Marian left to join Billy Mayerl's Claviers, a four-piano vaudeville act, performing under the stage name of Marian Page. The group toured throughout Europe during World War II, entertaining Allied troops.
. . . . .


After many years of recording for labels such as Capitol, Savoy, Argo, Sesac, Time, and Dot, in 1969 she founded her own record label, Halcyon Records, before having a long association with the Concord Jazz label.

In 1964, Marian McPartland launched a new venture on WBAI-FM (New York City), conducting a weekly radio program that featured recordings and interviews with guests. Pacifica Radio's West Coast stations also carried this series, which paved the way for Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, a National Public Radio series that began on 4 June 1978. It is the longest-running cultural program on NPR as well as one of the longest-running jazz programs ever produced on public radio. The program features McPartland at the keyboard with guest performers, usually pianists, but also singers, guitarists, other musicians, and even the non-musician Studs Terkel. Several Piano Jazz programs have been released on CD by Concord Records.

. . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_McPartland

[blm]

1. Saw her play with Les Paul in 1994. Amazing.

.

[niyad]

2. meant to say the other day "how absolutely marvelous. would have loved seeing her"

[blm]

3. I was in from LA and at old Fat Tuesdays in NYC. Intimate room - maybe about 70 people there.

I was doing some projects with Les at the time, and over that few years was fortunate to witness some extraordinary musical moments - that night with McPartland was one of them.

[niyad]

4. I am truly impressed--working with les paul!! may I ask what those projects were? Are you

still in the same field?

[blm]

5. Nope - left it all in late 90s when I left LA.

Created and worked special events and fundraisers through the music and entertainment industry in the 80s and 90s.