Cecil Mack (November 6, 1873 – August 1, 1944) was an African American composer, lyricist and music publisher. Born as Richard Cecil McPherson in Portsmouth, Virginia, he 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 1905, in New York City; it was likely the first black owned music publishing company. In July 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. Text source : Wikipedia (Hide extended text) ... (Read all)
