McPartland, Marian (1920–)

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McPartland, Marian (1920–)

English-born jazz pianist. Name variations: Marian Page. Born Margaret Marian Turner in Slough near Windsor, England, Mar 20, 1920; dau. of Frank Turner (civil engineer) and Janet (Payne) Turner (pianist); attended Guildhall School of Music, London; m. Jimmy McPartland, Feb 4, 1945 (div. then remarried 2 weeks before he died in 1991).

Studied classical music before moving into jazz; toured English vaudeville theaters as pianist with Billy Mayerl (1941); toured with Britain's ENSA in Europe (1943) and with USO camp shows in France (1944); came to US (1946); formed group with husband, played with Billie Holiday; formed Marian McPartland Trio (1951); toured US nightclubs; played Hickory House in New York City (1952–60); performed with Benny Goodman (1963); founded Halcyon Records (1969); toured South America with Earl Hines and Teddy Wilson (1974); made numerous recordings; won Peabody Award for hosting her National Public Radio series "Piano Jazz" (1984); composed "Twilight World" and "Ambience"; albums include: Ambience, Fine Romance, Now's the Time, Solo Concert at Haverford, Personal Choice, and In My Life. Given lifetime achievement award from Down Beat (1994).

See also autobiography All in Good Time (Oxford U. Press, 1987); and Women in World History.

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