Marian McPartland, jazz pianist and songwriter, whose real name was Margaret Turner, was born in Slough in 1918.

She studied music at the Guildhall School of Music in London. When she left, she joined music hall act Billy Mayer's Claviers, and during the Second World War she performed for British and American troops.

During this time she met trumpeter Jimmy McParland, whom she married, and she moved to America with him after the war. Overcoming the resistance of American jazz musicians, she formed her own trio with Bill Crow and Joe Morello, and through the 1950s they played at the Embers Club and the Hickory House in New York.

The 1960s were a less successful time. Her marriage broke up, and a spell playing with Benny Goodman ended unhappily. However, by the end of the decade McParland had formed her own record label, Halcyon, and was back performing in clubs and concert halls.

From the mid-1950s, much of McPartland's time was spend working with schoolchildren, introducing them to jazz music. Her work with black students in Washington was years ahead of its' time.

As well as being an accomplished musician, McPartland was also a composer - her more well-known tunes include 'In the Days of our Love', 'Ambience' and 'So Many Things'. She also hosted an award-winning radio programme, 'Piano Jazz'. A collection of her writings 'All in Good Time', was published in 1987.