Tom Lemonier

Tom Lemonier (March 29, 1870 – March 14, 1945) was an American actor, composer, book writer, and performer active in both Broadway productions and Black Vaudeville during the ragtime era. His Broadway career spanned from 1894 to 1912 and included credits in the musicals Rufus Rastus, Little Miss Brown, and The Mascot.

As a composer, Lemonier collaborated with numerous lyricists and musicians to produce a substantial body of popular songs. His composition Good Afternoon, Mr. Jenkins, with words by Cecil Mack, was recorded in 1901 by George Walker, and Junie, also with words by Cecil Mack, was recorded that same year by Walker as well. His song Is Everybody Happy?, co-written with Ernest Hogan and with words by Frank Williams, was included in the Broadway musical Rufus Rastus and recorded around 1905 by Arthur Collins. My Dear Luzon, with words by Jesse A. Shipp, was featured in the Broadway musical In Dahomey, and I'll Be Your Dewdrop Rosey, with words by Richard H. Gerard, was included in the show Foxy Grandpa, where it was originally performed by Joseph Hart and Carrie DeMar. Several of his compositions were originally performed by Aida Overton Walker, including Lovie Dear, with words by Fred Bonny, and Miss Hannah from Savannah, with words by Cecil Mack. My Cabin Door, with words by Grant Stewart, was originally performed by Hattie Williams and Sam Bernard in the musical production The Rollicking Girl, and In My Old Home (in Dixie Land), with words by Mord Allen, was performed by Bert Williams.

Lemonier's songs were recorded on major labels including Victor Records and Columbia Records, and some of his work was published by the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company. Among his recordings, Honey Lou, with lyrics by Ed Rose and recorded in 1908 by Collins and Harlan, achieved notable commercial success; Joel Whitburn estimates the Victor Records version ranked as the sixth best-selling recording of late January 1909. Just One Word of Consolation, co-written with Frank B. Williams, was recorded across multiple decades by Harry Tally in 1906, Will Oakland in 1911, Scrappy Lambert in 1928, and Bing Crosby in 1936. Additional recordings include I'm Just Barely Livin', Dat's All and Mary Ellen, both recorded in 1904 by Bob Roberts and Billy Murray respectively, I Wonder What Makes It Snow recorded in 1904 by Billy Murray, and Sweetness recorded in 1910 by the Peerless Quartet.

In 1909, Lemonier joined the staff of music publisher Rose and Snyder. That same year, his song That Was Me, with words by Ed Rose, was recorded by Bob Roberts. In 1910, Lemonier became one of the first African-American actors to perform in a production featuring a Caucasian cast when producer William A. Brady hired him to play a steward in the play Over Night. Prior to this casting, such roles had been performed in blackface. The positive reception Lemonier received led Brady to hire additional African-American actors for the same role in touring versions of the production. Lemonier also participated in a national tour of the 1912 musical Little Miss Brown, in addition to appearing in its original production, which Playbill documents as part of his performance credits.

In 1915, Lemonier composed the anthem Praise God We Are Not Weary for the National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee. In 1917, he established a sheet music business alongside Lew Payton and Tom Brown. He appeared on radio station WGY in 1923 as a whistler. By 1926, Lemonier had shifted his focus entirely to sacred music. On the subject of civil rights, Lemonier held the view that such rights should be acquired gradually, and that forcing the issue would produce hatred rather than progress.