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Ernest McCarty

1941 – 2025

American musician

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About Ernest McCarty

Lived 1941 – 2025 (aged 84). Ernest McCarty was a musician.

Ernest McCarty Jr. (March 26, 1941 – December 11, 2025) was an American upright bass player, musical composer and playwright. He is known for playing with Erroll Garner from 1970 until Garner's death in 1977, as well as for plays he has written, scored and directed.

Life and career McCarty was born in South Chicago to Samarie Hunter McCarty and Ernest McCarty Sr. He was scheduled to audition for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra but wasn't allowed to audition because he was Black.

He directed and co-wrote the musical Dinah! Queen of the Blues with Sasha Dalton, about the life of Dinah Washington. He has written or co-written more than 25 plays and musicals and acted as artistic director for New Horizons Theater in Pittsburgh from 1994 through 2008.

Awards and honors 1977 Madame Hortense - Joseph Jefferson Award 1987 Recollection Rag - Hoyt W. Fuller One-Act Play Festival Award - awarded by the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago 1998 Prolific Playwright of 1998 - In Pittsburgh 2004 African American Council of the Arts Onyx Award - Best Production Blue 2006 African American Council of the Arts Onyx Award - Best Director Purlie Victorious 2007 African American Council of the Arts Onyx Award - Best Production American Menu

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
DuSable High School

People in Ernest McCarty's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ernest McCarty's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ernest McCarty?

American musician

When was Ernest McCarty born?

Ernest McCarty was born on 26 March 1941.

When did Ernest McCarty die?

Ernest McCarty died on 11 December 2025.

What was Ernest McCarty's occupation?

Ernest McCarty was a musician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ernest McCarty

· Wikidata: Q105409126

· DBpedia: Ernest McCarty

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ernest McCarty. https://biography.guide/ernest-mccarty/

MLA: "Ernest McCarty." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ernest-mccarty/.

Chicago: "Ernest McCarty." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ernest-mccarty/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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