Emma Kelly | |
|---|---|
 Emma Kelly (at the piano) and Nancy Hillis in 1994 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | December 17, 1918 Statesboro, Georgia |
| Died | January 17, 2001 (aged 82) Savannah, Georgia |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1940s–1980s |
Emma Thompson Kelly (December 17, 1918 – January 17, 2001) was an American musician. Known as the "Lady of 6,000 Songs",[1] she appeared in both John Berendt's 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its 1997 movie adaptation.
Her nickname was given to her by Johnny Mercer, who — after challenging her to play numerous songs he named — estimated she knew 6,000 songs from memory.[2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nytwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Our 'Mrs. Emma'" - Statesboro Herald, October 18, 2015