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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
-
If Anybody Wants to Meet a Jonah, Shake Hands with Me
Harry Hoyt
The name Gregory is written in the margins on the cover.
-
If You Can't Be A Bell-Cow, Fall In Behind
A. L. Robb and J. Fred Helf
Sung with great success by Harry Brown.
-
If You Don't Want Me Send Me to My Ma
Chris Smith and Cecil Mack
Cecil Mack was a Black songwriter. Chris Smith was a Black songwriter.
-
I'll Dance My Way Right Back To Dixieland
Grant Clarke and William James Baskette
Composed for voice and piano.
-
I'll Keep a Warm Spot in My Heart for You
John Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson
As sung by Miss Aida Overton Walker of the Williams and Walker Co. in Melville Raymond''s production "Abyssinia." Brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson were Black American civil rights activists and artists born in Jacksonville, Florida.
-
I'll Sing You a Song (About Dear Old Dixie Land)
Henry Sterling Creamer and Turner Layton
Henry Creamer and Turner Layton were a Black American musical duo.
-
I Love Sweet Angeline
Henry Sterling Creamer and Turner Layton
Featured in the musical revue, "Strut Miss Lizzie." Creamer and Layton were a Black American musical duo.
-
I'm a Jonah Man
Bert Williams and Alexander Claude Rogers
Bert Williams was a Black American entertainer.
-
I'm A-longin' Fo' You
Jane Hathaway and Karl Fuhrmann
Song with violin or cello obligato. Words by Karl Fuhrmann and music by Jane Hathaway, which was a pseudonym for composer John Stepan Zamecnik.
-
I May Be Crazy, but I Ain't No Fool
Alexander Claude Rogers
Sung with roaring success by Mr. Bert Williams of Williams and Walker.
-
I'm Waiting for You Liza Jane
Henry Sterling Creamer and Turner Layton
Henry Creamer and Turner Layton were a Black American musical duo.
