January 1947 saw her heading the bill of 'Come to the Show' at the Empire Theatre, Belfast, where she was billed as 'radio's most versatile pianist'. On October 21, 1946, Atwell appeared on BBC-TV in the 'Stars In Your Eyes' show and this was quickly followed by several radio appearances on the Light Programme. She said later, 'I starved in a garret to get onto concert stages.' Life in the UK These modest beginnings in variety would one day see her topping the bill at the London Palladium. To support her studies, she played rags at London clubs and theatres. She became the first female pianist to be awarded the academy's highest grading for musicianship. in London she gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music where she completed her musical studies. It was announced on Octothat 'the noted West Indian pianist' had left for England where she will broadcast for the BBC on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A newspaper clipping reveals that she played in a concert at The Town Hall in New York on as part of a presentation by the Altruss Opera Company starring Paul A. Leaving Trinidad Ītwell left Trinidad in the early 1940s and travelled to the United States to study with Alexander Borovsky. She went away and wrote 'Piarco Boogie', which was later renamed 'Five Finger Boogie'. It was while playing at the Servicemen's Club at Piarco that someone bet her that she could not play something in the boogie-woogie style that was popular back home in the United States. She played for American servicemen at the Air Force base (which is now the main airport). She played the piano from a young age and achieved considerable popularity locally. Her family owned a pharmacy and she trained as a pharmacist herself and was expected to join the family business. She and her parents lived in Jubilee Street. Atwell was born in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago.

Black and white rag player piano roll