Tom Lemonier
Tom Lemonier (March 29, 1870 — March 14, 1945){{cite book |author= |date= 1952 |title= The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors and Publishers |url= https://archive.org/details/ascapbiographica00amer_1/page/300/mode/2up |publisher= American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |page= 300}} was an actor and composer of popular music during the ragtime era, particularly active in Black Vaudeville.{{Cite web|url=http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no98131073/|title=Lemonier, Tom 1870-1945 [WorldCat Identities]}} His work featured in various musicals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/tom-lemonier-49450|title=Tom Lemonier – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB|website=www.ibdb.com}} Some of his work was published by the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company.{{cite book |last1=Price |first1=Emmett George |last2=Maxille |first2=Horace |date=2010 |title=Encyclopedia of African American Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVxgs_E57_EC |location= |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=101|isbn=9780313342004}}
File:I-ma-babe-could-see-me-now-db83f5.jpg
Numerous recordings of his songs were made including on Victor Records and Columbia Records.{{Cite web|url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/111238/Lemonier_Tom|title=Lemonier, Tom - Discography of American Historical Recordings|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}} In 1909 he joined the staff of music publisher Rose & Snyder.{{cite news |last=Walton |first=Lester A. |date=February 4, 1909 |title=Music and the Stage |url=https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2011/New%20York%20NY%20Age/New%20York%20NY%20Age%201909-1911%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Age%201909-1911%20Grayscale%20-%200369.pdf |work=The New York Age |location= |page=6}} Also as announced in advertisement on same page.
Lemonier became one of the first African-American actors to perform in a Caucasian play when in 1910 he was hired to play a steward in William A. Brady's production of Over Night.{{cite news |last=Walton |first=Lester A. |date=October 5, 1911 |title=Music and the Stage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83161397/the-new-york-age/ |work=The New York Age |location= |page=6|via=newspapers.com}} Previously these characters had been performed in blackface. Lemonier's abilities and the positive reception he received convinced Brady to hire additional African-American actors for the role in touring versions of the show.
File:My-dear-luzon song, music by Tom Lemonier.jpg
Playbill notes him as a performer in the 1912 musical Little Miss Brown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/person/tom-lemonier-vault-0000007415|title=Tom Lemonier|website=Playbill}} In addition to the original production, he was part of a national tour of this show.{{cite news |author= |date=March 29, 1913 |title=Little Miss Brown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83161515/the-modesto-bee/ |work=The Modesto Bee |location=Modesto, California |page=3|via=newspapers.com}} In 1915 Lemonier wrote the anthem, entitled Praise God We Are Not Weary, for the National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee.{{cite web |url=https://www.lincolncollection.org/collection/categories/item/?cat=13&page=166&pagesize=48&view=image&item=91347 |title=Lincoln jubilee album : 50th anniversary of our emancipation, held in Chicago August 22d to September 16th, 1915 |author= |date= |website=Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection |publisher= |access-date=October 4, 2021}}
Lemonier collaborated with various other musicians and lyricists to produce compositions.{{Cite web|url=https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/people/tom-lemonier|title=Tom Lemonier | Levy Music Collection|website=levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu}} In 1917, Lemonier established a sheet music business with Lew Payton and Tom Brown.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kPJZTJtz1IwC&q=tom+brown+tom+lemonier&pg=PA188|title=Out of Sight: The Rise of African American Popular Music, 1889-1895|isbn=9781604730395|last1=Abbott|first1=Lynn|last2=Seroff|first2=Doug|date=18 September 2009|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi }} He appeared on radio station WGY in 1923 as a whistler.{{cite news |author= |date=October 12, 1923 |title=Flashes Out of the Air|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83161494/the-post-crescent/ |work=The Post-Crescent |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |page=7|via=newspapers.com}} In 1926 he was concentrating entirely on sacred music.{{cite news |author= |date=January 30, 1926 |title=Tom Lemonier Talks of "Lulu Belle" and Jumps |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83161427/the-pittsburgh-courier/ |work=The Pittsburgh Courier |page=9|via=newspapers.com}}
Views on Civil rights
Lemonier opined that Civil rights should be acquired over a period of time, and that forcing the issue would generate hatred instead of progress.
List of selected compositions
- Adopted Child, with W. J. Carle, music; words by Henry Creamer. Recorded 1912 by Bob Roberts.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix B-11904. Adopted child / Bob Roberts," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/1000003869/B-11904-Adopted_child.
- Dear Old Moonlight, music; words by Henry Creamer. Recorded by the Peerless Quartet.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1135064473 |title=Dear old moonlight |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=1135064473 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |quote=}}
- Good Afternoon, Mr. Jenkins, music; words by Cecil Mack. Recorded 1901 by George Walker.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix [Pre-matrix B-]996. Good afternoon, Mr. Jenkins / George Walker," accessed September 23, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000000452/Pre-matrix_B-996-Good_afternoon_Mr._Jenkins.
- Honey Lou, music; lyrics by Ed Rose. Recorded 1908 by Collins & Harlan.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix B-6468. Honey Lou / Collins and Harlan," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200007416/B-6468-Honey_Lou. Joel Whitburn estimates the Victor Records version was the sixth best selling recording of late January, 1909.{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |title=Pop Memories 1890-1954 |year=1986 |publisher=Record Research, Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-083-0 |page=93}}
- I Wonder What Makes It Snow, music; lyrics by Tom Brown. Recorded 1904 by Billy Murray.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix A-1079. I wonder what makes it snow / Billy Murray," accessed September 23, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200001915/A-1079-I_wonder_what_makes_it_snow.
- I'd Like to Be a Real Lady. Recorded 1908 by Collins & Harlan.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45091989 |title=Honey Lou |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=45091989 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |quote=}}
- I'll Be Your Dewdrop Rosey, music; words by Richard H. Gerard. Included in show "Foxy Grandpa", where originally performed by Joseph Hart and Carrie DeMar.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/498100124 |title=I'll be your dewdrop Rosey |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=498100124 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |quote=}}
- I'm Just Barely Livin', Dat's All, music; words by Harry Brown. Recorded 1904 by Bob Roberts.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix A-893. I'm just barely livin', dat's all / Bob Roberts," accessed September 23, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200001596/A-893-Im_just_barely_livin_dats_all.
- In My Old Home (in Dixie Land), music; words by Mord Allen. Performed by Bert Williams.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/259723007 |title=In My Old Home (In Dixie Land) |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=259723007 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |quote=}}
- Is Everybody Happy? (1905) with Ernest Hogan, music; words by Frank Williams. Included in musical play Rufus Rastus.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/498697021 |title=Is everybody happy? |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=498697021 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |quote=}} Recorded circa 1905 by Arthur Collins.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Columbia matrix 3332. Is everybody happy? / Arthur Collins," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000138889/3332-Is_everybody_happy.
- Junie, music; words by Cecil Mack. Recorded 1901 by George Walker.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix [Pre-matrix A-]995. Junie / George Walker," accessed September 23, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/100001004/Pre-matrix_A-995-Junie.
- Just One Word of Consolation, with Frank B. Williams. Recorded 1906 by Harry Tally. Recorded 1911 by Will Oakland.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Columbia matrix 19409. Just one word of consolation / Will Oakland," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000020315/19409-Just_one_word_of_consolation. Recorded 1928 by Scrappy Lambert.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brunswick matrix E7260. Just one word of consolation / Scrappy Lambert," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000226282/E7260-Just_one_word_of_consolation. Recorded 1936 by Bing Crosby.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/134991950 |title=Just one word of consolation |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=134991950 |access-date=September 20, 2021}}
- Lovie Dear, music; words by Fred Bonny. Originally performed by Aida Overton Walker.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/68194716 |title=Lovie Dear |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=68194716 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |quote=}}
- Mary Ellen, music; words by Alfred Bryan. Recorded 1904 by Billy Murray.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix B-885. Mary Ellen / Billy Murray," accessed September 23, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200001583/B-885-Mary_Ellen.
- Miss Hannah from Savannah, music; words by Cecil Mack. Originally performed by Aida Overton Walker.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/68194700 |title=Miss Hannah from Savannah |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=68194700 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |quote=}}
- My Cabin Door, music; words by Grant Stewart. Originally performed by Hattie Williams and Sam Bernard in musical production The Rollicking Girl{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/498100294 |title=My Cabin Door |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=498100294 |access-date=September 23, 2021 |quote=}}
- My Dear Luzon, music; words by Jesse A. Shipp.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/ihas.200005567.0/?st=gallery|title=My dear Luzon|website=Library of Congress}} Featured in Broadway musical In Dahomey.{{cite book |editor-last1=Riis |editor-first1=Thomas Laurence |date=1996 |title=The Music and Scripts of In Dahomey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dcVt8EhLvk8C |publisher=American Musicological Society |page=vi|isbn=9780895793423 }}
- Play That Rag, music; words by Ed Rose. Recorded 1908 by Collins and Harlan.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix B-6467. Play that rag / Collins and Harlan," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/200007415/B-6467-Play_that_rag.
- Sweetness, music; words by Henry Creamer.{{Cite book|url=https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/5197|title=Sweetness|first1=Tom|last1=Lemonier|first2=Henry S.|last2=Creamer|date=August 7, 1910|publisher=Gotham Attucks Music Co.|via=digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu}} Recorded 1910 by the Peerless Quartet.{{cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42017672 |title=Sweetness |author= |date= |via=WorldCat |publisher= |oclc=42017672 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |quote=}}
- That Was Me, music; words by Ed Rose. Recorded 1909 by Bob Roberts.Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Columbia matrix 4003. That was me / Bob Roberts," accessed September 30, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000139560/4003-That_was_me.
References
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External links
- {{IMSLP|id=Lemonier, Tom}}
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Category:Vaudeville performers
Category:African-American male actors