Jazz Profiles presented by Tim Owens & 32 Bar Blues
A Peabody Award-winning documentary series chronicling the people, places, and themes of jazz. Combining interviews, archival recordings, music, and narration by singer Nancy Wilson, each program tells an informative and sometimes gripping story that celebrates our uniquely American art form and the people who make it.
Jazz Profiles presented by Tim Owens & 32 Bar Blues
Willie "The Lion" Smith
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Irrepressible raconteur, indelible stylist, and giant of the Harlem stride piano, Willie “The Lion” Smith was an iconic American jazz pioneer. Known as a “musician’s musician,” his versatile career spanned ragtime, vaudeville, Broadway, and Tin Pan Alley – influencing legends like Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.
As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this presentation about Willie Smith was produced in 1997 by Sally Placksin – and narrated by the show host Nancy Wilson.
The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the University of North Texas Music Library. In a partnership with Tim and UNTML, we’ve picked a handful of noteworthy shows to share with you. You can find more “Jazz Profiles” shows at the UNT Music Library’s Jazz Syndicate (www.library.unt.edu/jazzsyndicate), and learn more about 32 Bar Blues' clothing collection and commitment to the arts at 32barblues.com