![Black American Sheet Music Collection](../assets/md5images/631533aad9ebc1056849446027776b8a.jpg)
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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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The Memphis Blues
William Christopher Handy and George A. Norton
William Christopher Handy (sometimes written as W. Morris Handywas a Black th stmposer.
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Down Where The Tennessee Flows
Bert L. Rule and Ray Sherwood
A piece composed by Bert L. Rule, who was known for vaudeville performances and songs composed during the Tin Pan Alley era. As sung by Al. Jolson in the big Winter Garden success "The Honeymoon Express."
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Maori (A Samoan Song)
William H. Tyers and Henry S. Creamer
Adapted from the instrumental number Maori A Samoan Dance.
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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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Oh You Georgia Rose
Robert A. Cole, Johnnie Waters, Shelton Brooks, and W. R. Williams
Words by Shelton Brooks and W. R. Williams. Music by Bob Cole and Johnnie Waters.
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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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The Memphis Blues or (Mister Crump)
William Christopher Handy
William Christopher Handy (sometimes written as W.C. Handy) was a Black composer.
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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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That Precious Little Thing Called Love
Chris Smith and Cecil Mack
Cecil Mack was a Black songwriter. Chris Smith was a Black songwriter.
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Rap, Rap, Rap, On Your Minstrel Bones
Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown
Words by Lew Brown. Music by Albert Von Tilzer.
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The Island of Gardens
S. Coleridge-Taylor and Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall
From "Songs of Sun and Shade," the poem by Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall.
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Thou Art Risen, My Beloved
S. Coleridge-Taylor and Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall
From "Songs of Sun and Shade," the poem by Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall.
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Candle Lightin' Time
Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a Black composer. Paul Lawrence Dunbar was a Black poet and lyricist.