Maceo Pinkard (June 27, 1897 – July 21, 1962) was an influential American composer, lyricist, and music publisher, recognized as a significant figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, Pinkard was educated at the Bluefield Colored Institute, graduating in 1913. He quickly made his mark in the music industry, writing his first major song, "I'm Goin' Back Home," in 1914 at the age of 17. Pinkard founded a theatrical agency in Omaha, Nebraska, and later established Pinkard Publications, a music publishing firm in New York City.

In 1919, Pinkard moved to New York City, where he formed Maceo Pinkard Music and began selling compositions to national publishing companies. His catalog includes popular songs such as "Sugar," "Gimme a Little Kiss, Will Ya Huh?," "At Twilight," "Them There Eyes," and the iconic "Sweet Georgia Brown," which became a theme for the Harlem Globetrotters and was recorded by numerous artists, including Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Pinkard was a pioneer as one of the first African-American owners of a music publishing company in the U.S. He also mentored Duke Ellington, introducing him to the music publishing district in New York. Pinkard's contributions to music were recognized posthumously with his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Maceo Pinkard passed away in New York City in 1962, leaving behind a legacy celebrated by musicians and historians alike.