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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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You're Calling Me, Georgia
Bernie Grossman, Eddie Nelson, and J. Eubie Blake
J. Eubie Blake was a Black composter.
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At the Cotton Gin: A Southern Sketch for Piano
Florence Beatrice Smith Price
Florence B. Price was a Black composer
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Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen: Negro Spiritual: Theme with Variations
Henry S. Sawyer
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" is a traditional Black spiritual.
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Roll, Jordan, Roll: Song: Negro Spiritual
Henri F. Klickmann
"Roll, Jordan, Roll" is a traditional Black spiritual.
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Deep River: Transcription of the Famous American Negro Spiritual for Violin and Piano
Calvin Grooms
"Deep River" is a traditional Black spiritual. This edition was adapted for the violin and piano.
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Charleston
Cecil Mack and James P. Johnson
Cecil Mack was a Black songwriter. James P. Johnson was a Black composer.
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Liza
Maceo Pinkard, Nat Vincent, and Irvin C. Miller
Maceo Pinkard was a Black songwriter. Irvin C. Miller was a Black writer.
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Old Handkerchief Head
Chris Smith and J. Timothy Brymn
Chris Smith was a Black songwriter. James Timothy Brymn was a Black band leader.
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At the End of the Sunset Trail
Maceo Pinkard and Calvin De Voll
Maceo Pinkard was a Black songwriter.
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Three Negro Spirituals
James R. Gillette
Three Black spirituals - "Deep River," "The Angels Done Changed My Name," and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen".
![Carolina Mammy [Copy 2] by Billy James](https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/aa_sheet_music/1074/thumbnail.jpg "Carolina Mammy [Copy 2] by Billy James")
![Carolina Mammy [Copy 3] by Billy James](https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/aa_sheet_music/1075/thumbnail.jpg "Carolina Mammy [Copy 3] by Billy James")
![Carolina Mammy [Copy 4] by Billy James](https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/aa_sheet_music/1076/thumbnail.jpg "Carolina Mammy [Copy 4] by Billy James")
