Black American Sheet Music Collection
The Bank of America Black American Sheet Music Collection consists of approximately 4000 pieces of published sheet music reflecting the influences of African Americans on popular music in the United States. The music was created by, performed by, published by, or portrays Black and African American themes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. The collection highlights popular vocal music, jazz, big band, and swing music published in the United States. The earliest piece in the collection dates to 1818, and the latest editions date into the 1980s, thereby giving a chronicle of the evolution of Black-inspired music in America for almost 200 years. Some imagery and lyrics in this collection reflect harmful racist depictions of Black people and are included in the collections for their use in academic research.
Content Warning:
USF Libraries’ Digital Collections include historical and primary sources from many cultures and time periods. Some content may be harmful, graphic, difficult to view, or reflect biases. Digital Collections provides access to these materials to preserve the historical record, but we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them. USF Libraries’ is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Roll, Jordan, Roll: Song: Negro Spiritual
Henri F. Klickmann
"Roll, Jordan, Roll" is a traditional Black spiritual. This version was arranged by Henri Klickmann.
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Rosa Lee
Unknown
The piano and vocal score for "Rosa Lee" by an unknown composer. Sung by the Ethiopian Serenaders, Christy's Minstrels, and others. Arranged with chorus and accompaniments for the piano.
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Russian Rag
George L. Cobb and F. Henri Klickmann
The violin score for "Russian Rag" by George L. Cobb and arranged by F. Henri Klickmann.
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Saint Louis Blues
William Christopher Handy and Rube Bloom
The piano score for "Saint Louis Blues" originally by William Christopher Handy but this version is by "Rube" Bloom.
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Sam, the Old Accordion Man
Walter Donaldson
The piano and ukelele score for "Sam, the Old Accordian Man" with words and music by Walter Donaldson.
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Say Au Revoir, But Not Good-Bye
Harry Kennedy
The piano and vocal score for "Say 'Au Revoir,' but not 'Good-bye" with music and lyrics by Harry Kennedy.
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She Rested by the Broken Brook
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Robert Louis Stevenson
The piano and vocal score for "She Rested by the Broken Brook" composed by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a Black composer. The lyrics are based off a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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Shew Fly Galop
George Thorne and Rollin Howard
The piano score for "Shew Fly Galop" arranged by George Thorne. Taken from Rollin Howard's Popular Song, "Shew Fly! Don't Bother Me."
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Shim-me-sha-wabble
Spencer Williams
The score for "Shim-me-sha-wabble," composed by Black songwriter, Spencer Williams.
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Shine on My Evening Star
John Rosamond Johnson and Robert Allen Cole
The vocal and piano score for "Shine on My Evening Star," with lyrics by Robert Allen Cole, a Black lyricist, and music by John Rosamond Johnson, a Black composer.
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Snakes Hips: A Jungle Jazz
Spencer Williams
The piano and vocal score for "Snake Hips" with words and music by Spencer Williams, a Black songwriter.
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Song Album of Primrose and Dockstader's Minstrels
Dave Reed Jr., Irving Jones, John Rosamund Johnson, James Weldon Johnson, Robert Allen Cole, William A. Heelan, and J. Fred Helf
A songbook with piano and vocal scores for several songs performed by Lew Dockstader's minstrel shows. Included is "Sleep on, Dream on" by Dave Reed, Jr.; "I've Got Money Locked Up in a Vault" by Irving Jones; "Don't Butt In" by James Weldon Johnson, a Black lyricist, Robert Cole, a Black lyricist, and John Rosamond Johnson, a Black composer; and "There are Two Sides to a Story" by Will A. Heelen and J. Fred Helf.
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Song of the Bayou
Rube Bloom
The piano score for "Song of the Bayou" by Rube Bloom. Dedicated to Miss Taddy Keller.
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Sounds of the Times
John Rosamond Johnson, Robert Allen Cole, and James Weldon Johnson
The vocal and piano score for "Sounds of the Times," with lyrics by James W. Johnson, and music by Robert Allen Cole, a Black lyricist, and John Rosamond Johnson, a Black composer.
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South Carolina Croon Song
Harvey B. Gaul and Will Deems
The piano and vocal score for "South Carolina Croon Song" with music by Harvey B. Gaul and lyrics by Will Deems.
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Southland Sketches
H. T. Burleigh
The violin and piano score for "Southland Sketches" by H.T. Burleigh.
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Springtime of Love Valse
James Sylvester Scott
The piano score for "Springtime of Love Valse" by James Scott.
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St Louis Tickle
Theron Catlen Bennett
The piano score for "St. Louis Tickle" by Barney and Seymore, a pseudonym for composer Theron Catlen Bennett.
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Strut Miss Lizzie
Henry Sterling Creamer and Turner Layton
The piano and vocal score for "Strut Miss Lizzie" by Creamer and Layton. Henry Creamer was an African American lyricist, and Turner Layton was an African American singer and songwriter.
