Last but not least, the missing Bahamian link:

“All my trials soon be over; w & melody S. Manning & S.O. Johnson. 1 ?. Nov.17, 1941; E unp. 275889; Sam Manning, Samuel O. Johnson & Oscar E. Johnson, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas. 44460”
[Catalog of Copyrights, Part 3, Musical Comp., Last Half of 1941]


“Nothing’s definite about Sam Manning…apart from the fact we know he existed!”
-John Cowley, Insititute of Commonwealth Studies Fellow

Given Manning's politics, "Oscar E. Johnson" would be Nassau businessman/activist/United Negro Improvement exec. Oscar Ernest Johnson (1895-1990). Samuel O. Johnson I've still to learn about.

The only real mystery still lingering around these parts is... why did Sam Manning and co. virtually take over Bahamian music publishing when they did?