Maceo Pinkard
Maceo Pinkard (June 27, 1897 – July 21, 1962) was an influential American composer, lyricist, and music publisher, renowned for his contributions to the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, to Mary Ellen Jimerson, an educator, and G. Pinkard, a coal miner, he was educated at the Bluefield Colored Institute, graduating in 1913. Pinkard quickly made his mark in music, writing his first major song, "I'm Goin' Back Home," a year after his graduation.
In 1914, at just 17 years old, Pinkard founded a theatrical agency in Omaha, Nebraska, and later established Pinkard Publications, a music publishing firm in New York City. By 1917, he had formed his own publishing firm, Maceo Pinkard Music, and began selling compositions to national companies. His first big hit, "Mammy O'Mine," was published in 1919 after he moved to New York City.
Pinkard's most productive period was between 1921 and 1931, during which he composed numerous hit songs, including "Sugar," "Gimme a Little Kiss, Will Ya Huh?," "Them There Eyes," and the iconic "Sweet Georgia Brown," which became a number one Billboard hit in 1925 and later the theme for the Harlem Globetrotters. His compositions were recorded by legendary artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles.
In addition to his composing career, Pinkard played a significant role in introducing Duke Ellington to the music industry, guiding him through the music publishing district known as Tin Pan Alley. Pinkard's legacy was cemented with his posthumous induction into the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984.
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