Maceo Pinkard facts for kids

Maceo Pinkard (born June 27, 1897 – died July 21, 1962) was an American composer, lyricist, and music publisher. He wrote many famous songs, including "Sweet Georgia Brown". This song became very popular and is still known today as the theme song for the amazing Harlem Globetrotters basketball team!

In 1984, Pinkard was honored by being added to the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Maceo Pinkard's Life Story

Pinkard was born in Bluefield, West Virginia. His mother, Mary Ellen Jimerson, was a teacher, and his father, G. Pinkard, worked as a coal miner. He went to the Bluefield Colored Institute and finished in 1913. Just one year later, he wrote his first big song, "I'm Goin' Back Home."

Pinkard was one of the most important composers during the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time when Black artists, writers, and musicians created amazing works in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Early in his career, he led his own orchestra and toured all over the United States.

In 1914, when he was only 17, Pinkard started a theater agency in Omaha, Nebraska. Later, he opened his own music publishing company called Pinkard Publications in New York City. By 1917, he had his own firm, Maceo Pinkard Music. He started selling his songs to big publishing companies. In 1918, he joined Shapiro, Bernstein & Company. The next year, his song "Mammy O'Mine" became a huge hit!

During 1918, many songs were written about World War I. Pinkard wrote "Don't Cry Little Girl, Don't Cry," which was a comforting song for people whose loved ones went to war. He also wrote "Those Draftin' Blues."

In 1919, Pinkard moved to New York City. His best songs were written between 1921 and 1931. He usually wrote both the music and the words for his songs. Some of his famous hits include "Sugar", "Gimme a Little Kiss, Will Ya Huh?", and "Them There Eyes" (1930). The famous singer Billie Holiday later recorded "Them There Eyes" in 1939.

"Sweet Georgia Brown" was a number one hit in the summer of 1925. Other popular songs by Pinkard include "Here Comes the Show Boat" (1927), "Sweet Man," and "Congratulations" (1929). After moving to New York, he even recorded his piano playing on special "piano rolls." These rolls are the only known recordings of him playing the piano!

His most famous song, "Sweet Georgia Brown" (with words by Kenneth Casey), was recorded by many legendary artists. These include Louis Armstrong (1928), Count Basie, The Beatles (on their album Ain't She Sweet in 1962), Cab Calloway (1931), Ray Charles (1961), Nat King Cole (1943), Bing Crosby (1927), Ella Fitzgerald (1956), Dizzy Gillespie (1967), Benny Goodman (1956), Harry James (1939), Carmen McRae (1964), Thelonious Monk (1941), Charlie Parker (1947), Oscar Peterson (1945), Cole Porter (1960), Sarah Vaughan (1963), and Ethel Waters (1923).

Maceo Pinkard also helped Duke Ellington get started in the music business. Pinkard introduced Ellington to the music publishing area of Broadway, known as Tin Pan Alley. This area was full of sounds from many pianos playing different songs at once! It was there that Ellington had his first important meeting with his brother Irving, who later became his manager. Ellington himself recorded some of Pinkard's songs, like "Is That Religion?", "Sweet Georgia Brown", and "Them There Eyes".

Maceo Pinkard's Stage Shows

The Musical Liza (1922)

Pinkard also wrote and produced a musical comedy show called Liza. It opened on Broadway in New York City on November 27, 1922. The show ran for 172 performances, which was a very long run for that time!

Some of the songs from Liza include "Tag Day," "Pleasure," "I'm the Sheriff," "Liza," "That Brownskin Flapper," and "Don't Be Blue." These songs became popular on records by other bands.

Liza was a big success. It was the first show by Black artists to play on Broadway during the regular theater season. Before this, Black productions usually only played during the summer months. Liza showed that these shows could be popular any time of year!

Maceo Pinkard passed away in New York City on July 19, 1962. Each year, Bluefield State College holds a festival to celebrate its famous former student.

In 1999, the Grammy-nominated album The Love Movement by A Tribe Called Quest used a part of Pinkard's 1920 song "Start It Up."

Maceo Pinkard's Music in Movies

Pinkard's songs were used in many movies. Here is a list of some films that featured his music: