And it was written with lyrics, and he worked with a friend of his who lived in the neighborhood, a woman named Thelma Elizabeth Murray(ph), and she wrote these beautiful lyrics to the song, and it was a love song.

The song was originally called 'I Need You So.' It's one of my great discoveries. So Robin, tell us the story behind ''Round Midnight.' How did Monk write it? My guest is Robin Kelley, the author of a new biography of Monk. That's Thelonious Monk at the piano, playing his composition ''Round Midnight.' This is his first recording of it, from 1947. Let's start with Monk's first recording of his most famous composition, ''Round Midnight.' This is a Blue Note recording from 1947. His book is called 'Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original.' Kelley spoke with Terry Gross last year. Robin Kelley is a professor of history and American studies at the University of Southern California. Kelley also had access to tapes of Monk's music and conversations made by Nellie and the photographer W. Kelley's book is based in part on conversations with Monk's surviving relatives, including his widow Nellie, who died while Kelley was researching the book. Monk sometimes was portrayed as primitive, but Kelley says Monk possessed an impressive knowledge of and appreciation for Western classical music, gospel music, American popular songs, and art songs. For example, Monk often has been portrayed as eccentric, but Kelley says Monk actually suffered from bipolar disorder. Kelley says his research debunks several myths about Monk. Its subject is the jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk, whose dissonant harmonies and angular rhythms have had a profound and lasting impact on jazz. Kelley, has written a biography that has just come out in paperback. I'm David Bianculli of, sitting in for Terry Gross.

Robin dg kelley thelonious monk