Tom Lemonier

Tom Lemonier (March 29, 1870 — March 14, 1945) was an actor and composer of popular music during the ragtime era, particularly active in Black Vaudeville. His work featured in various musicals. Some of his work was published by the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company.

Numerous recordings of his songs were made including on Victor Records and Columbia Records. In 1909 he joined the staff of music publisher Rose & Snyder.

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. 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.

Playbill notes him as a performer in the 1912 musical Little Miss Brown. In addition to the original production, he was part of a national tour of this show. In 1915 Lemonier wrote the anthem, entitled Praise God We Are Not Weary, for the National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee.

Lemonier collaborated with various other musicians and lyricists to produce compositions. In 1917, Lemonier established a sheet music business with Lew Payton and Tom Brown. He appeared on radio station WGY in 1923 as a whistler. In 1926 he was concentrating entirely on sacred music.

Birth and Death Data: Born (New York City (most populous city in the United States)), Died March 14, 1945 (Chicago (city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1901 - 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 28 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]995 7-in. 10/11/1901 Junie George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]995 10-in. 10/11/1901 Junie George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]996 7-in. 10/11/1901 Good afternoon, Mr. Jenkins George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]996 10-in. 10/11/1901 Good afternoon, Mr. Jenkins George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3613 10-in. 10/11/1901 Junie George Walker Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-885 10-in. 1/7/1904 Mary Ellen Billy Murray Male vocal solo composer  
Victor A-885 7-in. 1/7/1904 Mary Ellen Billy Murray Male vocal solo composer  
Victor A-893 7-in. 1/11/1904 I'm just barely livin', dat's all Bob Roberts Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-893 10-in. 1/11/1904 I'm just barely livin', dat's all Bob Roberts Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor A-1079 7-in. 3/7/1904 I wonder what makes it snow Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-1079 10-in. 3/7/1904 I wonder what makes it snow Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-3467 12-in. 6/14/1906 Just one word of consolation Harry Tally Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6467 10-in. 9/25/1908 Play that rag Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6468 10-in. 9/25/1908 Honey Lou Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-8726 10-in. 3/21/1910 Dear old moonlight Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
Victor B-9556 10-in. 10/12/1910 Sweetness Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-11904 10-in. 4/23/1912 Adopted child Bob Roberts Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 1660 7-in. between 1903 and October 1905 Mary Ellen Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 1660 10-in. approximately 1903 Mary Ellen Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 1768 10-in. 5/31/1904 I'm just barely living, dat's all Bob Roberts Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 3332 10-in. between 1905 and February 1906 Is everybody happy? Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 3956 10-in. between January and November 1908 Honey Lou Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 4003 10-in. between January and May 1909 That was me Bob Roberts Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 4923 10-in. approximately 1910 Sweetness Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet composer  
Columbia 19409 10-in. 6/15/1911 Just one word of consolation Will Oakland Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 1-25 of 28 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lemonier, Tom," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111238.

Lemonier, Tom. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111238.

"Lemonier, Tom." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111238

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