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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Ethiopian Quadrilles, Sett 4
A. Nagerj Onyqjva
Twelfth Edition. Sett 4 includes: "Mary Blane"; "Lucy Neal"; "Stop Dat Knocking"; "Carry Me Back to Old Virginy"; "Rosa Lee"
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Everybody Twostep, 1911
Wallie Herzer
The Columbia recording of the composition was the first recording of ragtime music.
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Everybody Two-Step, 1912
Wallie Herzer and Earl C. Jones
As sung by Miss Nellie Beaumont in "A Lucky Hoodoo." The Columbia recording of the composition was the first recording of ragtime music.
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Ev'ry Day
Shelton Brooks and W. R. Williams
Shelton Brooks was a Canadian-born Black composer. Words by W. R. Williams.
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Exhortation
Will Marion Cook and Alex Rogers
Will Marion Cook was a Black American composer, violinist, and choral director.
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Farewell My Lilly Dear
Stephen Collins Foster
A plantation melody as sung by Christy's Minstrels. Composed for piano and guitar.
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Flora Lyle
M. Keller and Peter F. Stout
A ballad with chorus. As sung by Rollin Howard at Bryant's Minstrels.
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Four Little Sugar Plums
Lawrence B. O'Connor
Schottische and barn dance. Respectfully dedicated to Mr. Roy W. Simpson in Bangor, Maine.
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George White's Scandals
George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson
Black Bottom Eighth Annual Edition. Comedy scenes by George White and William K. Wells. Lyrics by B. G. de Sylva and Lew Brown. Staged by George White.
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Give Me Your Hand, Old Friend of Youth
John Pond Ordway
Song and chorus as performed by Ordway's Aeolians.
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Going Home!
John Pond Ordway
Companion to Home Delights. Dedicated to Mrs. E. C. Huntley, Nashville, Tennessee.
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Good-Bye Boys
Harry Von Tilzer, Andrew B. Sterling, and William Jerome
Introduced by Al Jolson in the Winter Garden production "The Honeymoon Express." Dedicated to Edwin A. Starn.
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Grace and Beauty
James Sylvester Scott
A Classy Rag. James Scott was a Black American ragtime composer and pianist.
