Cecil Mack
Encyclopedia
Cecil Mack was an American
composer, lyricist and music publisher.
Born as Richard Cecil McPherson in Portsmouth, Virginia
, Mack attended the Norfolk Mission School 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. Mack started writing song lyrics, starting with Good Morning, Carrie in 1901. He co-founded the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company in May of 1905, in New York City
; it was likely the first black owned music publishing company. In July of 1906, an article in the New York Age
refers to Mack as the company's "secretary and treasurer and general business director." 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. In 1931 he co-wrote the music for the musical Rhapsody in Black.
His obituary observed that "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." He was married to Gertrude Curtis, a pioneering African-American dentist
who had an office in Harlem
. They had no children.
Notable songs Mack wrote lyrics for include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer, lyricist and music publisher.
Born as Richard Cecil McPherson in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, Mack attended the Norfolk Mission School and Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Lincoln University or University of Lincoln or variations may refer to:in England*University of Lincolnin New Zealand*Lincoln University, New Zealandin the United States*Lincoln University...
in Pennsylvania (class of 1897) before leaving to go to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where the 1900 Federal Census lists his occupation as a stenographer. Mack started writing song lyrics, starting with Good Morning, Carrie in 1901. He co-founded the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company in May of 1905, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; it was likely the first black owned music publishing company. In July of 1906, an article in the New York Age
New York Age
The New York Age was a black newspaper from 1887 to 1953, and was one of the most influential black newspapers of its time.The paper had it origins as the weekly New York Globe , an African-American newspaper, that was published weekly from at least 1880 to November 8, 1884...
refers to Mack as the company's "secretary and treasurer and general business director." 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. In 1931 he co-wrote the music for the musical Rhapsody in Black.
His obituary observed that "Not even Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
exceeded the output of this talented New York Negro. His songs were as American as Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
'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." He was married to Gertrude Curtis, a pioneering African-American dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
who had an office in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. They had no children.
Notable songs Mack wrote lyrics for 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)
- Zono, My Congo Queen (1904 or before)
- Teasing (1904)
- You're In the Right Church (But the Wrong Pew) (1908, co-wrote music and lyrics with Chris SmithChris Smith- Politics :*Chris Smith , Florida State Senator*Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury , former British Member of Parliament and government minister*Chris Smith , U.S...
) - I'm Miss Hanna from Savannah (between 1908 and 1910)
- That's Why They Call Me ShineShine (Cecil Mack song)"Shine" is a popular song with lyrics by Cecil Mack and Tin Pan Alley songwriter Lew Brown and music by Ford Dabney...
(1910) - Someone's Waiting Down in Tennessee (1912, co-wrote music and lyrics with James Reese EuropeJames Reese EuropeJames Reese Europe was an American ragtime and early jazz bandleader, arranger, and composer. He was the leading figure on the African American music scene of New York City in the 1910s.-Biography:...
) - CharlestonCharleston (song)"The Charleston" is a jazz composition that was written to accompany the Charleston dance. It was composed in 1923, with lyrics by Cecil Mack and music by James P. Johnson, who first introduced the stride piano method of playing. The song was featured in the American black Broadway musical comedy...
(1923, co-wrote music and lyrics with James P. JohnsonJames P. JohnsonJames P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer...
) - Old Fashioned Love (1923, co-wrote music and lyrics with James P. JohnsonJames P. JohnsonJames P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer...
for the show Runnin' Wild