Robert MacGimsey

{{Short description|American composer (1898–1979)}} '''Robert Hunter MacGimsey''' (1898–1979) was an American composer. His most famous song was "[[Sweet Little Jesus Boy]]" (1934), a well-known [[Christmas carol]] written in the style of an [[African-American spiritual]].

== Early Life == Robert Hunter MacGimsey<ref>"A Note on Robert MacGimsey", back page of the original publication of the song Shadrack. New York: Carl Fischer, Inc., 1931</ref> was born in [[Pineville, Louisiana]] to white parents. He is one of six children and his father was a Professor of Mathematics.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/adams-county-independent-robert-macgimse/26504132/</ref> MacGimsey spent most of his formative years in the company of [[African-Americans]] who lived with, and worked for and with his family. Due to their influence he wrote in an "African American" style.<ref name="is">{{cite news |last1=Wolfert |first1=Ira |title=Politics Started Composer on Way |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26500987/robert_macgimsey/ |accessdate=25 December 2018 |work=The Indianapolis Star |agency=North America Newspaper Alliance |date=January 8, 1939 |location=Indiana, Indianapolis |page=5|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was often mistakenly assumed to be a black composer.<ref>https://www.318central.com/robertmacgimseyandpineville/</ref>

MacGimsey was a whistler as a boy, teaching himself at age 5. His mother, a church choir teacher, taught him singing, violin, and the piano soon after.<ref>https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1940/02/10/trilloquist</ref> MacGimsey sang in the church choir that his mother directed. She ensured that he received training in music, eventually studying under [[Frank Damrosch]] at the [[Juilliard School|Institute of Musical Art]] in New York.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Smoot |first1=Joanne |title=Music Maker MacGimsey Moves Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26500448/robert_macgimsey/ |accessdate=25 December 2018 |work=Arizona Republic |date=October 13, 1960 |location=Arizona, Phoenix |page=11|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

=== Law and politics === Before he became known for his musical accomplishments, MacGimsey was an attorney in [[Lake Providence, Louisiana]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNamara |first1=Daniel I. |title=Personalities in Music |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26504132/robert_macgimsey/ |accessdate=25 December 2018 |work=Adams County Independent |agency=Music Features & Photo Syndicate |date=April 14, 1939 |location=Pennsylvania, Littlestown |page=3|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> in addition to being an adviser to United States Senator [[Joseph E. Ransdell]]<ref name=":0" /> from Louisiana.<ref name="ar">{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Sue |title=Whistling lawyer writes another |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23076796/691228phx_arizona_republicwhistling/ |accessdate=25 December 2018 |work=Arizona Republic |date=December 28, 1969 |location=Arizona, Phoenix |page=4-N|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1960, MacGimsey said that he was giving up music to dedicate the remainder of his life to good government.<ref name=":0" />

=== Composing === MacGimsey is also known for the song "How Do You Do?" which was originally written for the [[Walt Disney]] live-action musical drama ''[[Song of the South]]''. The song is also featured in the theme-park attraction [[Splash Mountain]] located in [[Disneyland]], [[Walt Disney World]], and [[Tokyo Disneyland]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} MacGimsey also composed "[[Shadrack (Robert MacGimsey song)|Shadrack]],"<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Music Items |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/30s/1939/Billboard-1939-04-29.pdf |access-date=25 December 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=April 29, 1939 |page=14}}</ref> which was a 1962 hit<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Honor Roll of Hits |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-02-17.pdf |access-date=25 December 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 17, 1962 |page=32}}</ref> for [[Brook Benton]] that was also recorded by [[Louis Armstrong]] and many others.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} In 1947, [[Robert Merrill]] recorded a disc (Victor 10-1303) with MacGimsey's songs ("Sweet Little Jesus Boy" and "To My Mother") on both sides.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Record Reviews |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/40s/1947/BB-1947-05-24.pdf |access-date=25 December 2018 |magazine=Billboard |date=May 24, 1947 |page=126}}</ref>

MacGimsey worked with singer [[John Gary]], beginning with their first meeting after Gary had left the Marines. Gary made a demonstration record with four new songs by MacGimsey, and a friendship developed thereafter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reunion for MacGimsey, Gary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23076659/650425phx_arizona_republicreunion/ |accessdate=25 December 2018 |work=Arizona Republic |date=April 25, 1965 |location=Arizona, Phoenix |page=C-17|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> MacGimsey was also famous for double whistling, or whistling duets.

== Legacy == MacGimsey's library, letters and works can be found in the library archives at [[Louisiana College]], Pineville, Louisiana.{{Citation needed |date=July 2019}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *List of recordings of Robert MacGimsey songs at [[Allmusic]].com ([{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p100447/songs|pure_url=yes}} link 1], [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p308949/songs|pure_url=yes}} link 2]) *List of Robert MacGimsey songs at [[ASCAP]].com ([http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=6245400&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1 link])

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macgimsey, Robert}} [[Category:20th-century American male composers]] [[Category:1898 births]] [[Category:1979 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American composers]] [[Category:American whistlers]] [[Category:Composers from Louisiana]] [[Category:People from Pineville, Louisiana]] [[Category:American lawyers]] [[Category:Juilliard School alumni]]