Composer, Band Leader, Theatrical Agent, Music Publisher
(1897-1962)

While a teenager, Maceo Pinkard formed his own band and toured the Midwest, but by 18 he tired of the road and settled in Omaha, Nebraska. While there he started composing for a local music publisher. In 1917 he formed his own publishing firm, Maceo Pinkard Music, and began selling compositions to national publishing companies such as Frank K. Root in Chicago and Leo Feist in New York. In late 1918 he was hired by the prestigious firm of Shapiro, Bernstein & Company in New York and the following year saw the publication of first big hit, “Mammy O’Mine”.

He began writing for the theater, composing music for the successful African-American musical Liza, whic...