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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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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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I Never Had a Mammy
Rosetta Duncan, Vivian Duncan, and Sam H. Harris
The piano score and lyrics for "I Never Had a Mammy," composed by the Duncan Sisters of Rosetta and Vivian Duncan. Book by Catherine C. Cushing and arranged by Sam H. Harris.
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In the Days of Old Black Joe
James Brockman
The piano score and lyrics for "In the Days of Old Black Joe," composed by James Brockman. Cover illustrated by Christina M. Semendinger.
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In the Evening by the Moonlight
James A. Bland
The piano score and lyrics for "In the Evening by the Moonlight," with music and lyrics by James A. Bland.
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It's Allus de Same in Dixie
Will Marion Cook and Richard Grant
The vocal and piano score for "It's Allus de Same in Dixie," with lyrics by Richard Grant, and music by Will Marion Cook, a Black composer.
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I Want My Mammy
Louis Breau and George B. Wehner
The piano score and lyrics for "I Want My Mammy," a ballad foxtrot. Music by Louis Breau and lyrics by George B. Wehner. Sung by Eddie Cantor in "The Midnight Rounders."
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I Want to Know where Tosti Went (When He Said Good-Bye)
Christopher M. Smith
The piano score and lyrics for "I Want to Know Where Tosti Went" by Christopher M. Smith, a Black composer. Introduced by Bert Williams in George Le Maire's "Broadway Brevities" at the New York Winter Garden.
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I Wasn't Scared, but I just Thought that I had Better Go
Harry C. Shunk
The score for "I Wasn't Scared, but I just Thought that I had Better Go" by Harry C. Shunk.
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Jazz Babies' Ball
Maceo Pinkard and Charles A. Bayha
The vocal and piano score for "Jazz Babies' Ball," with music by Maceo Pinkard, a Black songwriter, and lyrics by Charles Bayha.
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Jean
Frank L. Stanton and H. T. Burleigh
The piano score and lyrics for "Jean" composed by H.T. Burleigh and lyrics by Frank L. Stanton.
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Jenny Lane
R. Bishop Buckley and John Pond Ordway
The piano score and lyrics for "Jenny Lane," with music and lyrics by R. Bishop Buckley and arranged by John P. Ordway.
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Juba
R. Nathaniel Dett
The piano score for "Juba," from the suite "In the Bottoms" for the piano by R. Nathaniel Dett.
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Julius Quadrilles (Third Sett.)
John Casper Scherpf
Arranged from the Christy Melodies. Includes scores for "Virginia Rosebud or the Lost Child"; "Uncle Ned"; "Stop Dat Knocking"; "Away Down South"; and "Darkies History." All the scores were arranged by John Casper Scherpf.
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Just Leave it to Me
Maceo Pinkard and William Tracey
The vocal and piano score for "Just Leave it to Me," with lyrics by William Tracey and music by Maceo Pinkard, a Black songwriter.
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Just Some One
Will R. Anderson
The piano score and lyrics for "Just Some One" by Will R. Anderson. Sung by Charles Reinhart in The Al G. Field Greater Minstrels.
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Just You
Madge Marie Miller and H. T. Burleigh
The piano score and lyrics for "Just You" with music by H.T. Burleigh and lyrics by Madge Marie Miller. Dedicated to Signorina Lucrezia Bori.
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Katy Darling
J. C. Greenham
The piano score and lyrics for "Katy Darling" with words by J.C. Greenham. Sung by Christy's Minstrels.
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Katy Darling: A Favorite Song
Oliver Ditson
The piano score and lyrics for "Katy Darling" published by Oliver Ditson and Company.
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Kentucky Babe
Richard Henry Buck and Adam Geibel
The piano score and lyrics for "Kentucky Babe," composed by Adam Geibel with lyrics by Richard Henry Buck.
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Kiss Me
Rosetta Duncan, Vivian Duncan, and Sam H. Harris
The piano and vocal score for "Kiss Me" arranged by Sam H. Harris in "Topsy and Eva." The song was written by the Duncan Sisters, Rosetta Duncan and Vivian Duncan.
