Feist, Leo, 1869-1930

Leo Feist began his career as a corset salesman and composed songs as an avocation. When he failed to find a publisher for his work, he set up his own firm to deal in popular songs. "You can't go wrong with a Feist song" was the slogan printed on every copy of the firm's sheet music. An effective marketer, Feist soon had company branches in England, France, Germany and Australia, specializing in American popular music. Leonard Feist began his music publishing career with his father's company and held executive positions with Feist, Century Music Publishing Co./Mercury Music Corporation. Feist moved on to be the president of the Associated Music Publishers (1956-64), and the National Music Publishers Association (1976). He held board positions on the National Music Council and was actively involved with the Music Publishers of the United States, the National Academy of Popular Music and the Copyright Society of the USA.