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.

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The Little House of Dreams

H. T. Burleigh and Arthur Wallace Peach

Sung by Mr. John McCormack.
The Little Old Cabin in the Lane

Will Shakespeare Hays

Song and chorus. As sung by Manning's Minstrels.
Thelma Rag

W. M. Reiff

March and Two Step.
The Lover's A.B.C.

Max S. Witt and Michael Elder Rourke
The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes

James Wheldon Johnson and Robert Allen Cole

Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. Cole wrote the words alongside James Weldon Johnson, a Black American writer and civil rights activist.
The Memphis Blues

William Christopher Handy and George A. Norton

William Christopher Handy (sometimes written as W.C. Handy) was a Black composer.
The Memphis Blues or (Mister Crump)

William Christopher Handy

William Christopher Handy (sometimes written as W.C. Handy) was a Black composer.
The Mobile Prance

Charles B. Brown

Characteristic March, Cake Walk or Polka.
The Moon Shines on the Moonshine

Robert Hood Bowers and Francis De Witt

Lyric by Francis De Witt. Music by Robert Hood Bowers.
The New Mary Blane

Edward L. White

Note: This copy is missing pages. Arranged as a Quick Step by Edward L. White.
The Old Pine Tree

Charles White

A favorite Ethiopian song.
The Original Boogie Woogie

Clarence "Pine-Top" Smith and Tiny Parham

Piano Solo by Clarence "Pine-Top" Smith. Edited by Tiny Parham.
The Piccaninnies

Aubrey Hopwood, Ivan Caryll, Harry Greenbank, and Lionel Monckton

From new musical play The Runaway Girl.
The Pinywoods Rag

N. Weldon Cocroft

By N. Weldon Cocroft.
The Rain Storm

Thomas Greene Wiggins Bethune

Thomas Greene Wiggins Bethune (called "Blind Tom") was a Black pianist and composer.
The Razor Club: Cake Walk March

Walter V. Ullner
The Smiler

Percy Wenrich

A Joplin-Rag.
The Spirit of the Banjo!

Robert Allen Cole and James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson was a Black writer. Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist.
The Sunny South

J. Bodewalt Lampe

A Selection of Southern Plantation Songs.
The Three Last Seats for Smokers

Archie Morrow and Wilford Herbert

Words by Archie Morrow. Music by Wilford Herbert.
The Watermelon Trust

Harry C. Thompson

A Slow Drag.
The White-Smith Minstrel Opening Chorus

W. H. Gardner and H. F. Odell

Words by W. H. Gardner. Music by H. F. Odell.
The Whitewash Man

Jean Schwartz

A Characteristic Syncopated March and Two Step.
The Wild Old Woods

Louis V.H. Crosby

Quartette as sung by the Harmoneons.