From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Mundy, James A.

(born: 1886  -  died: 1978) 

James Ahlyn Mundy, born in Maysville, KY, was a choral director, composer, and arranger. He studied music education at Simmons College (KY) and Cosmopolitan School of Music in Chicago. Mundy moved to Chicago around 1906, spending the remainder of his life there. He is recognized as one of Chicago's pioneer musicians.

Mundy organized and directed a number of community singing groups, companies, and choruses that performed at events such as the Lincoln Jubilee and Half-Century Exposition, Emancipation Day celebrations, and the Chicago World's Fair. He was also choirmaster at Bethel AME Church and founded Chicago's early opera groups.

For more see E. P. Holly, "Black Concert Music in Chicago, 1890 to the 1930s," Black Music Research Journal, vol. 10, issue 1 (Spring, 1990), pp. 141-149; and "James Ahlyn Mundy" in Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians, by E. Southern.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Mason County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Maysville, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Outside Kentucky Place Name

Item Relations

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Entry: Simmons College (Louisville, KY)
NKAA Source: Black music research journal (periodical)
NKAA Source: Biographical dictionary of Afro-American and African musicians

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Mundy, James A.,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed July 26, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/index.php/items/show/1945.

Last modified: 2022-03-30 16:36:59