C. M. Cady

Chauncey Marvin Cady (May 16, 1824, Westport – June 16, 1889, Ashville) was an American music publisher, businessman and composer. One of the best-known men of the trade, his public service to Chicago has been regarded as pivotal to the advancement of the city’s music scene in the mid-19th century. Among the numerous roles of authority he held were as the first music teacher at Illinois State Normal University and the first conductor of the Chicago Musical Union. He was a founder and partner of Root & Cady that dominated Civil War and early Reconstruction-era music publication. Early life and career He was born on May 16, 1824. Chicago career Establishment of Root & Cady No firm attained such success in publishing Unionist music as Chicago-based Root & Cady, “the largest of … the era” and “most prolific producers of wartime music.” It was established in 1858 by Ebenezer T. Root and Chauncey M. Cady and, from 1860 onwards, principally operated by George F. Root. Root was one of the most renowned composers of the Civil War era, with such tunes as “Battle Cry of Freedom” and “Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!” to his name. By the war’s opening weeks, his firm was receiving roughly sixty daily su