Ernest Farmer

Ernest Farmer had a long and successful career at Shawnee Press in Pennsylvania before he and his wife, music editor Marjorie, formed Wide World Music together in 1980. Ernie’s involvement in the music publishing industry began right after World War II when he was hired by Shawnee Press to oversee the company’s expansion. The company was the brainchild of famed choral director Fred Waring. Many of the early publications were based on Fred’s music and that made famous by his radio and TV programs. Ernie helped enlarge the catalog and often worked with his wife to offer new works published by Shawnee. Ernie was also a key board member of the Music Publishers Association who fought to provide music educational materials to those in low-income schools at little or no cost.