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Sundays at 5pmRebroadcast Mondays at 8pm Host: Susan B. Wilson Producer & Co-Host: Sylvia Maria Gross Assistant Producer: Alex Smith Contact: kccurrents@kcur.org or 816.235.6696Follow our Tweets: www.twitter.com/kccurrents For a weekly reminder of what's coming up on KC Currents, send an email to kccurrents@kcur.orgThe Latest From KC CurrentsPlanting New Grocery Stores In Rural Food Deserts Rural America is losing its grocery stores. Fewer people are living in the countryside, and mom-and-pop markets can't compete with big chains. But as KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports, some small towns are finding creative ways to buck the trend. K-State Program Supports Rural Groceries With grocery stores in rural Kansas closing at record speed, having access to healthy food is a growing issue. Sylvia Maria Gross interviews K-State Professor David Proctor about what options are available for small town groceries.

The Little Piano Girl

Local author Ann Ingalls' new children's book introduces young readers to the legendary pianist Mary Lou Williams.

By Alex Smith

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-881931.mp3

Kansas City, MO – If she were still alive this year, jazz pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams would be 100 years old. Williams was considered by many to be the greatest female jazz instrumentalist of all times. She spent the years between 1929 and 1941 in Kansas City, and was one of the principal architects of the Kansas City swing sound.

Local author Ann Ingalls' new children's book The Little Piano Girl tells the story of when the young Mary Lou Williams moved with her family from Atlanta to Pittsburg, PA. This is Ingalls' first published book, but she teamed up with her sister, veteran children's book author Maryann MacDonald, and illustrator Giselle Potter.

Ingalls recently spoke with KCUR's Alex Smith about The Little Piano Girl and the art of writing children's literature. Ending this piece, is a 1977 recording of one of Mary Lou Williams' signature songs, My Mama Pinned A Rose On Me.

Ann Ingalls will read from and talk about her book at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library on Friday, January 29th at 7 pm.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

As a health care reporter, I aim to empower my audience to take steps to improve health care and make informed decisions as consumers and voters. I tell human stories augmented with research and data to explain how our health care system works and sometimes fails us. Email me at alexs@kcur.org.
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