Born as Richard Cecil McPherson in Portsmouth, Virginia, he attended the Norfolk Mission College and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (class of 1897) before leaving to go to New York City where the 1900 Federal Census lists his occupation as a stenographer.[3] Mack started writing song lyrics, starting with "Good Morning, Carrie" in 1901. He co-founded the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company in May 1905, in New York City; it was likely the first black-owned music publishing company.[4] In July 1906, an article in The New York Age referred to Mack as the company's "secretary and treasurer and general business director."[5] In 1907 he wrote the lyrics for the musical The Black Politician. In 1925 he co-wrote the book for the musical Mooching Along. Mack also formed a choir, the Southland Singers, that year.[6] In 1931 he co-wrote the music for the musical Rhapsody in Black.
Birth date
His birthdate is also given as 1880[7] and 1883, and an 1876 date is shown by his World War I Draft Registration card, as referenced above, and the 1900 US Census, but an 1891 Navy Enlistment Record and the 1880 Federal census both point to an 1873 birth year.
Personal life
Mack married Dr. Gertrude Curtis on April 8, 1912, in Manhattan. Curtis was a pioneering African-American dentist who practiced in Harlem. They remained married to her until his death. They had no children. Gertrude re-married in 1946 to Ulysses "Slow Kid" Thompson (1888–1990), a comedian.
Death
Mack died in Manhattan, aged 70. The New York Age, quoting his obituary from The Christian Science Monitor, observed, "Not even Irving Berlin exceeded the output of this talented New York Negro. His songs were as American as Stephen Foster's – one or two of them may be remembered as long – and were typically representative of the pre-radio era when fortunes were made over the 10-cent-store counters. Cecil Mack's songs were pure fun and never had an off-color line."[8]
Notable works
As lyricist, Mack's notable works include:
"Good Morning, Carrie" (1901, co-wrote music and lyrics with J. Tim Brymn)
Perfessor Bill (aka Bill Edwards; né William G. Motely III; born 1959) (n.d.). "Richard Cecil McPherson (Cecil Mack)". www.perfessorbill.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
"Southland Singers, The: America's Foremost Jubilee Company". Iowa City: Iowa Digital Library, University of Iowa Ligraries. 1938.Retrieved August 18, 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
UI TC 37758.
UI TC 41971.
UI TC 55420.
World War II Draft. "Richard C. McPherson, 188 West 135th St., #2W, New York, New York". World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Manhattan, New York: "McNeil, Barney Earl – Meiman, Mores" (microfilm → Record Group 147 → Box 172 → Filmed April 11, 2003 → Film Emulsion No. 2446-0157-011-01 → Film Unit No. 55586 → Project No. N-YR 0003A → Roll No. 73 → Image 418). Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration (microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah). Retrieved April 7, 2013 – via Ancestry.comDraft Registration Serial No. U6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
cecil, mack, november, 1873, august, 1944, american, composer, lyricist, music, publisher, birth, namerichard, cecil, mcphersonborn, 1873, november, 1873portsmouth, virginia, usadiedaugust, 1944, 1944, aged, manhattan, york, usaoccupation, composer, lyricist, . Cecil Mack November 6 1873 August 1 1944 was an American composer lyricist and music publisher 1 2 Cecil MackBirth nameRichard Cecil McPhersonBorn 1873 11 06 November 6 1873Portsmouth Virginia USADiedAugust 1 1944 1944 08 01 aged 70 Manhattan New York USAOccupation s Composer lyricist music publisher Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Birth date 1 2 Personal life 1 3 Death 2 Notable works 3 Bibliography 3 1 Notes 3 2 References linked to notes 4 External linksBiography EditBorn as Richard Cecil McPherson in Portsmouth Virginia he attended the Norfolk Mission College and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania class of 1897 before leaving to go to New York City where the 1900 Federal Census lists his occupation as a stenographer 3 Mack started writing song lyrics starting with Good Morning Carrie in 1901 He co founded the Gotham Attucks Music Publishing Company in May 1905 in New York City it was likely the first black owned music publishing company 4 In July 1906 an article in The New York Age referred to Mack as the company s secretary and treasurer and general business director 5 In 1907 he wrote the lyrics for the musical The Black Politician In 1925 he co wrote the book for the musical Mooching Along Mack also formed a choir the Southland Singers that year 6 In 1931 he co wrote the music for the musical Rhapsody in Black Birth date Edit His birthdate is also given as 1880 7 and 1883 and an 1876 date is shown by his World War I Draft Registration card as referenced above and the 1900 US Census but an 1891 Navy Enlistment Record and the 1880 Federal census both point to an 1873 birth year Personal life Edit Mack married Dr Gertrude Curtis on April 8 1912 in Manhattan Curtis was a pioneering African American dentist who practiced in Harlem They remained married to her until his death They had no children Gertrude re married in 1946 to Ulysses Slow Kid Thompson 1888 1990 a comedian Death Edit Mack died in Manhattan aged 70 The New York Age quoting his obituary from The Christian Science Monitor observed Not even Irving Berlin exceeded the output of this talented New York Negro His songs were as American as Stephen Foster s one or two of them may be remembered as long and were typically representative of the pre radio era when fortunes were made over the 10 cent store counters Cecil Mack s songs were pure fun and never had an off color line 8 Notable works EditAs lyricist Mack s notable works include Good Morning Carrie 1901 co wrote music and lyrics with J Tim Brymn Please Go Away and Let Me Sleep 1902 He s a Cousin of Mine 1902 The Little Gypsy Maid 1904 or before Zongo My Congo Queen 1904 or before Teasing 1904 All in down and out 1906 9 You re In the Right Church But the Wrong Pew 1908 co wrote music and lyrics with Chris Smith I m Miss Hanna from Savannah between 1908 and 1910 That s Why They Call Me Shine 1910 Way Down East 1911 words by Cecil Mack music by Joe Young and Harold Norman Someone s Waiting Down in Tennessee 1912 co wrote music and lyrics with James Reese Europe Charleston 1923 co wrote music and lyrics with James P Johnson Old Fashioned Love 1923 co wrote music and lyrics with James P Johnson for the show Runnin Wild Bibliography EditNotes Edit Anderson 1976 Perfessor Bill McPherson US Census June 12 1900 Morgan New York Age July 26 1906 Southland Singers 1938 World War II Draft New York Age August 19 1944 McPherson Smith Johnson Bowman 1906 References linked to notes Edit Anderson Elsie Ruth 1907 1989 compiler 1976 McPherson Richard Cecil Contemporary American Composers A Biographical Dictionary 1st ed Boston G K Hall amp Co p 288 ISBN 9780816111176 Retrieved August 18 2021 via Internet Archive LCCN 76 2395 ISBN 0 8161 1117 0 OCLC 251647491 all editions Catalogue of Copyright Entries Part 3 Musical Compositions New Series Library of Congress Copyright Office Retrieved August 18 2021 via Internet Archive a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint postscript link Vol 2 Nos 6 9 February 1907 1907 All In Down and Out Sorry I Ain t Got It You Could Get It If I Had It c Gotham Attucks Music Co New York 7 December 1906 C 136267 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint postscript link p 44 McPherson Richard C United States Census June 12 1900 429 West 99th Street Manhattan Washington D C National Archives and Records Administration microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah Retrieved April 7 2013 via Family Search microfilm New York New York County ED 212 Borough of Manhattan Election District 18 amp 17 New York City Ward 9 image 45 of 48 citing NARA microfilm publication T623 line 32 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint postscript link McPherson Richard Cecil words Smith Christopher M 1879 1949 Johnson Billy B Bowman Elmer music 1906 All In Down and Out Sorry I Ain t Got It You Could Get It If I Had It sheet music in B major New York Gotham Attucks Music Company Inc Retrieved April 9 2018 via Arizona State University Library Digital Repository OCLC 872280986 60450062 Morgan Thomas Lesher born 1952 n d African American Owned Music Publishing Companies Gotham Attucks c 2007 2014 tlmorgan wbr com Tom Morgan s Jazz amp Blues amp jassroots wbr com New Jazz Roots are blogs of Thomas L Morgan of Pensacola Florida Pensacola Florida Tom Morgan s Jazz amp Blues New Jazz Roots Home Retrieved April 7 2013 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a External link in code class cs1 code type code help OCLC 52484853 556909934 Jazz Roots New York Age The July 26 1906 Manhattan and Bronx PDF Vol 19 no 40 p 6 column 1 Retrieved July 11 2011 via Fultonhistory com New York Age The August 9 1944 He Wrote Dad s Favorites PDF re printed from the Christian Science Monitor Vol 59 no 13 p 12 column 1 Retrieved July 11 2011 via Fultonhistory com Perfessor Bill aka Bill Edwards ne William G Motely III born 1959 n d Richard Cecil McPherson Cecil Mack www perfessorbill com Retrieved August 18 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Southland Singers The America s Foremost Jubilee Company Iowa City Iowa Digital Library University of Iowa Ligraries 1938 Retrieved August 18 2021 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint postscript link UI TC 37758 UI TC 41971 UI TC 55420 World War II Draft Richard C McPherson 188 West 135th St 2W New York New York World War II Draft Registration Cards 1942 Manhattan New York McNeil Barney Earl Meiman Mores microfilm Record Group 147 Box 172 Filmed April 11 2003 Film Emulsion No 2446 0157 011 01 Film Unit No 55586 Project No N YR 0003A Roll No 73 Image 418 Washington D C National Archives and Records Administration microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah Retrieved April 7 2013 via Ancestry com Draft Registration Serial No U6 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint postscript link CS1 maint ref duplicates default link External links EditCecil Mack biodata Cecil Mack at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cecil Mack amp oldid 1144293689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
