Nickerson, Camille (1888–1982)

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Nickerson, Camille (1888–1982)

African-American composer, musician, and educator. Name variations: Camille Lucie Nickerson; The Louisiana Lady. Born on March 30, 1888 (some sources cite 1887, while Social Security Index cites 1894), in New Orleans, Louisiana; died on April 27, 1982, in Washington, D.C.; daughter of William Joseph Nickerson (a bandleader and violinist) and Julia Ellen Nickerson (a music teacher); graduated with bachelor of music degree from Oberlin Conservatory; completed master's degree thesis; never married; no children.

Selected works:

"Go to Sleep, Dear"; "I Love You"; "Mister Banjo"; "Mam'selle Zi Zi"; "Susanne, Bel Femme"; "Suzanne"; "Christmas Everywhere"; "The Women of the U.S.A."; "A Precious Lullaby"; "When Love Is Done"; and "Lizette."

Born on March 30, 1888, in New Orleans, Camille Nickerson grew up surrounded by musicians. Her father William Joseph Nickerson was a violinist, music teacher, and bandleader, and her mother Julia Ellen Nickerson played the violin and cello, taught music, and organized a "ladies' orchestra" which she also conducted; two of her brothers also became musicians. A child prodigy, at age nine Nickerson was the pianist for the Nickerson Ladies' Orchestra, conducted by her father. She also tutored many local children in her father's studio.

Nickerson's father sent her to Oberlin Conservatory for more formal music training, and there she studied piano, organ, voice, theory, history, and composition. Her early training in music served her well during her Oberlin years; instructors put her in charge of various choral groups and bestowed on her membership in Phi Kappa Lambda, the national honor society in music. During this time, Nickerson's childhood appreciation for the Creole music so prevalent in New Orleans became an academic pursuit, as she used the research facilities available to her to compile existing lyrics and melodies and to compose her own Creole arrangements.

Upon her graduation from Oberlin, Nickerson resumed teaching at the Nickerson School of Music, and also began a career as a concert musician. Taking the stage name "The Louisiana Lady," she began to dress in Creole costume to lend an air of authenticity to her performances, and audiences loved her. Despite her success, however, Nickerson was more committed to broadening an understanding of Creole music at the academic level, and surprised many when after several successful seasons she gave up her performing career and joined the music faculty at Howard University. From 1926 to 1962, Nickerson molded numerous aspiring musicians, earning her students' respect with her demanding teaching style. During her tenure, she also became a Rosenwald fellow in order to collect and transcribe Creole music in Louisiana as the basis of her graduate study. While documenting a wealth of Creole music, her research uncovered important and previously overlooked accomplishments made by black American musicians. She continued to give occasional private performances, and was lauded during a tour of France in 1954. Camille Nickerson retired with the title of professor emerita in 1962, and remained affiliated with Howard University until her death from pneumonia at the school's hospital on April 27, 1982.