Robert MacGimsey was an American composer. His most famous song was "Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Sweet Little Jesus Boy is a Christmas song composed by Robert MacGimsey and published in 1934. Its style is similar to African-American spirituals. It has been recorded by many choirs and solo artists....

" (1934), a well-known Christmas carol

Christmas carol

A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...

 written in the style of an African-American spiritual. MacGimsey also composed "Shadrack

Shadrack (Robert MacGimsey song)

"Shadrack" is a popular song written by Robert MacGimsey in the 1930s and performed by Louis Armstrong and others...

," which was a 1962 hit for Brook Benton

Brook Benton

Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...

 that was also recorded by Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....

and many, many others.

Born in Pineville, Louisiana of white, Caucasian parents, Robert MacGimsey spent most of his formative years in the company of African Americans who lived and worked for and with his family. Due to their influence he wrote in the African American style and so prevalent are his songs he is often mistaken as an African American composer.

He was also famous for double whistling, or whistling duets. His library, letters and works can be found in the library archives at Louisiana College, Pineville, LA.