Robert MacGimsey

American composer, singer, pianist & multi-tone whistler.

Born September 7, 1898 in Pineville, Louisiana, USA.

Died March 13, 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

MacGimsey received his musical training at Juilliard. After a brief career as a lawyer, he became a professional whistler, performing on the radio and recordings.

MacGimsey also pursued a career as a singer and composer. His songs reflected his southern roots, especially the Negro folksongs he heard. His best known composition is the Christmas carol "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", which he composed in 1934.

MacGimsey's birdlike double whistling or whistling duets (also known as polytonal whistling) made him more famous. He was called a three-tone whistler (meaning he could make 3 distinct sounds in the same whistle). MacGimsey was so popular for his whistling that, at the time of the Great Depression, he was paid $100/minute to whistle on the radio.