James Mundy, one in every of Chicago’s greatest African-American musicians was born in Maysville.
In keeping with native historian, Ron Bailey, Mundy was born in Maysville on July 9, 1886, to Mr. and Mrs. Sal Mundy.
“Mundy began making a reputation across the state of Kentucky by profitable a vocal contest sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist State Sunday College Affiliation in Lexington. The younger Mr. Mundy was representing the Bethel Baptist Sunday College right here in Maysville,” Bailey stated.
In keeping with Bailey, Mundy received the Baptist State Sunday College contest, which allowed him to have the ability to attend the State Baptist Faculty, the place graduated with honors. Mundy additionally studied music training at Simmons Faculty in Kentucky and the Cosmopolitan College of Music in Chicago.
Mundy left for Chicago in 1906 and commenced working at a put up workplace. Whereas in Chicago, he turned a professor of music and was invited to arrange a 150-voice choir.
“The Maysville native was seen throughout Chicago and he turned the primary musician to tour public colleges enjoying music and singing. His Pilgrim Baptist choir was featured together with the Chicago Symphony in 1927,” Bailey stated. “He was the musical conductor on many prime performs within the Windy Metropolis.”
Bailey stated Mundy turned the choirmaster at Bethel AME Church and based Chicago’s opera teams.
He additionally organized a number of group singing teams and choirs. These teams would carry out on the Lincoln Jubilee and Half-Century Exposition, the Emancipation Day celebrations and the Chicago World’s Honest.
“In March of 1954, the Metropolis of Chicago honored Mr. Mundy for his nice musical skills and for organizing one if not the best African American choirs within the land. Maysville Mayor Rebekah Hord made the journey to Chicago to assist Chicago honor Maysville’s native son as Chicago held a James A Mundy day for his nice musical achievements,” Bailey stated.
Rebekah Hord, mayor of Maysville, as soon as despatched a telegraph to Mundy that stated, “The Metropolis of Maysville, Kentucky salutes the Metropolis of Chicago. Our residents are grateful to your residents for the respect and recognition being bestowed upon Maysville, born musician and chief, James Mundy, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 24. Could Professor Mundy reside lengthy, be completely satisfied and eternally benefit from the fruits of a life so productive, that right now he brings honor to the town of his delivery, and to his metropolis of adoption.”
Mundy died in 1978.