SAM DeVINCENT COLLECTION OF ILLUSTRATED AMERICAN SHEET MUSIC, ca. 1790 - 1987
#300

Container List

Series 3: AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSIC, ca. 1828-1980

by: Karen Linn, 1989

Subseries 3.8: African-American Composers and Performers, ca. 1865-1980

Armstrong, Louis, 1922-1981:

Box 121

Folder
A, A - J
B, K - Z

Jazz trumpeter (b. 1900; d. 1971). Most of the sheets are piano/vocal arrangements. Several are by Lillian ("Lil") Hardin Armstrong. Many items are from films in which he appeared. Some of the sheets are of compositions that he recorded but he is not mentioned on the publication. Most items date from the 1930s to the 1950s. See also folder C. There is a large ephemera file on Armstrong. (59 items)

Box 122

Folder

C, Armstrong, Louis, Folios, 1961-1968:

Included are two song folios (one from the film of Hello Dolly) and one instrumental folio (transcriptions of his solos). (3 items)

D, Basie, William ("Count"), 1940-1945:

Jazz pianist and bandleader (b. 1904; d. 1984). The folder has one song sheet and two folios of jazz piano solos. See also 3.7 G. (3 items)

E, Bethune, Thomas ("Blind Tom"), 1865-1884:

Concert pianist and composer (b. 1849; d. 1908). All of the sheets are piano solos; most date from 1865-1866. Some of his compositions are programmatic. (8 items)

F, Blake, Hubert ("Eubie"), 1916-1942:

Ragtime and musical comedy composer (b. 1883; d.1983). Most of the sheet music dates from the 1920s and most are songs. The lyrics are often by Noble Sissle or Andy Razaf. Many selections from "Shuffle Along" are included. See also 2.4 XX and 3.7 K. (31 items)

G, Bland, James A., Folio, 1946:

Minstrel performer and songwriter (b. 1854; d. 1911). This 1946 collection of Bland's songs includes a forward and illustrations. See also folder H. (1 item)

Box 123

Folder

H, Bland, James A., 1878-1942:

Included in this folder of sheet music are many editions (covering a large time span) of Bland's very popular songs Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, In the Evening By the Moonlight, and Oh Dem Golden Slippers. (45 items)

I, Boone, John William ("Blind Boone"), 1885-1888:

Concert pianist and composer (b. 1864; d. 1927). Both items are piano solos. (2 items)

J, Brymn, James Timothy ("Tim"), 1900-1915:

Musical comedy composer, society dance orchestra and military band leader (b. 1881; d. 1946). Most of the compositions are instrumental music. See also 3.7 G. (9 items)

K, Burleigh, Henry T., 1917-1924:

Composer (b. 1866; d.1949). All of the items are arrangements of spirituals for solo voice. (6 items)

L, Calloway, Cabell ("Cab"), 1931-1976:

Jazz band leader and singer (b. 1907). All of the material, except one item, is from the 1930s-1940s. He is the composer of some items, performer on others. One sheet is a guitar chart. One folio is included. (27 items)

Cole, Nat ("King"), ca. 1945-1964:

M, A - L

Box 124

Folder

N, M - Z

Jazz pianist and popular music singer (b. 1919; d. 1965). Cole is featured as both a solo singer and as part of the King Cole Trio. One folio is included in folder N. (57 items)

Cole, Robert ("Bob"), J. Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson, ca. 1900-1935.

O, A - L
P, M - R
Q, S - Z

Bob Cole (entertainer and lyricist b. 1868; d. 1911) and the 43Johnson brothers, John Rosamond (composer b. 1873; d. 1954) and James Welden (writer b. 1871; d. 1938), collaborated on many songs and musical comedies. Materials by all three men are placed in these folders. Most of the items date from the 1900s. For J. Rosamond Johnson, see also 3.3 F. (ca. 100 items)

Box 125

R, Cook, Will Marion, 1898-1908:

Composer (b. 1869; d. 1944). All items are vocal compositions. See also 3.4 TT and GGG, 3.8 X. (4 items)

Creamer, Henry and J. Turner Layton, ca. 1909-1925:

S, A - I
T, J - Z

Vaudeville and songwriting team (Creamer b. 1879; d. 1930/ Layton b. 1894; d. 1978). Some of the songs are by Creamer without Layton. Another edition of After You're Gone is in folder 3.8 A. (71 items)

Davis, Gussie L., ca. 1888-1937:

U, A - I
V, J - Z

Popular songwriter (b. 1863; d. 1899). Most of the sheets date from the 1890s. Several editions of his popular In the Baggage Coach Ahead are present. (50 items)

Box 126

Folder

W, Domino, Antoine ("Fats"), 1955-1963:

Blues and rock singer (b. 1928). All but two sheets are professional copy. (10 items)

X, Dunbar, Paul Lawrence, 1899-1926:

Poet and lyricist (b. 1872; d. 1906). See also 3.4 TT. (7 items)

Ellington, Edward Kennedy ("Duke"), ca. 1928-1973:

Y, A - I
Z, J - Z

Composer, jazz pianist and band leader (b. 1899; d. 1974). Most of the sheet music dates from the 1930s to 1940s; both instrumental and vocal compositions are present. There are also a few pieces by William ("Billy") Strayhorn and Mercer Ellington. The ephemera file on Ellington is large. See also folder AA. (66 items)

AA, Ellington, Edward Kennedy ("Duke"), Folios, ca. 1932-1944:

Four of the folios are of piano solos, the others are song collections. Some folios contain photographs of Duke and his orchestra members. (6 items)

BB, Europe, James Reese, 1907-1919:

Society dance-band and military-band leader, composer (b. 1881; d. 1919). One sheet is a song about Europe, the rest are his own compositions. Copies of the Castle House Rag feature Vernon and Irene Castle on the cover. See also 2.4 XX. (8 items)

Box 127

Folder

CC, Fitzgerald, Ella, 1938-1959:

Jazz singer (b. 1918). Several editions of A-Tisket A-Tasket are included. (8 items)

DD, Franklin, Aretha, 1962-1969:

Gospel and rhythm and blues singer (b. 1942). (4 items)

EE, Gaye, Marvin, 1966-1968:

Rhythm and Blues singer (b. 1939; d. 1984). (5 items)

Handy, W. C., 1912-1948:

FF, A - M
GG, P - Z

Composer and publisher, "Father of the Blues" (b. 1873; d. 1958). Most of the song sheets are blues. There are many editions of Saint Louis Blues; see folder 3.8 II for an orchestration of this piece. (66 items)

HH, Handy, W. C., Piano/Vocal Folios, ca. 1925-1935:

Two of the folios are incomplete. (7 items)

Box 128

Folder

II, Handy, W. C., Instrumental Folios, 1918-1928:

Two folios are full orchestrations. One is for saxophone and one for ukulele. (4 items)

JJ, Hines, Earl Kenneth ("Fatha"), ca. 1941-1946:

Jazz pianist (b. 1905; d. 1983). The folder includes two folios of jazz piano solos. (5 items)

KK, Horne, Lena, 1939-1943:

Popular-music and theater singer (b. 1917). (4 items)

LL, Hunter, ("Ivory") Joe, 1950-1957:

Bluesman and songwriter (b. 1911). Most of the song sheets are professional copy. (11 items)

MM, Ink Spots, 1935-1953:

Popular-music vocal quartet (performing from the 1930s through the 1970s, founded in 1934). Five song sheets feature Bill Kenny as a soloist; one is of Deek Watson (an original Ink Spot) and his "Brown Dots." (44 items)

NN, Jackson, Anthony ("Tony"), 1916-1917:

Ragtime-vaudeville pianist and composer (b. 1876; d. 1921). (6 items)

OO, Johnson, J.C., 1923-1942:

Jazz pianist and songwriter (b. 1896; d. 1981). The folder contains many professional copies. (40 items)

Box 129

Folder

PP, Johnson, James Price ("James P."), 1922-1949:

Jazz pianist and composer (b. 1894; d. 1955). The folder contains piano solos and songs, many written with lyricist Henry Creamer. Also, one folio of boogie woogie piano solos is included. (27 items)

QQ, Jones, Clarence, 1913-1932:

Songwriter (b. 1889; d. 1949). Included are songs and piano solos; many of the instrumentals are popular dance music of the early 20th century such as tangos and the "black bottom." One piece includes parts for tenor and alto saxophone. (41 items)

RR, Jones, M. Sissieretta ("Black Patti"), 1896-1907:

Concert singer (b. 1869; d. 1933). The folder contains two song folios--with photographs--and two song sheets featuring Jones and her troupe called the "Black Patti Troubadours." (4 items)

SS, Jordan, Louis, 1944-1949:

Rhythm and blues singer and saxophonist (b. 1908; d. 1975). See also 3.7 L for a folio of Jordan songs. (5 items)

TT, Kitt, Eartha Mae, 1947-1957:

Actress and popular-music singer (b. 1928). (5 items)

UU, Mathis, Johnny, 1956-1961:

Popular-music singer (b. 1935). (8 items)

Box 130

Folder

VV, Melrose Brothers, 1920-1953:

Publishers of early jazz; Walter Melrose wrote the lyrics for many of the songs. For more of the work of Walter Melrose, see folder 3.8 YY. Most of the items date from the 1920s. Many sheets feature photographs of early jazz bands on the cover. Also included is one folio from 1927. (35 items)

Mills Brothers, 1932-1971:

WW, A - N
XX, O - Z

Popular-music vocal quartet/trio (performed from the late 1920s to the 1970s). Most of the sheets date from the 1940s to the early 1950s. (87 items)

YY, Morton, Ferdinand ("Jelly Roll"), 1915-1926:

Ragtime/blues pianist and jazz bandleader (b. 1885; d. 1941). Most of the songs have lyrics written by Walter Melrose. See also the folios in folders 3.8 ZZ and AAA. (8 items)

ZZ, Morton, Ferdinand ("Jelly Roll"), Folios, 1926-1949:

Three of the folios are for solo piano, one is a 1926 orchestration of Sidewalk Blues. (4 items)

Box 131

AAA, Morton, Ferdinand ("Jelly Roll"), Folio, 1982:

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton: The Collected Piano Music by James Dapogny. (1 item)

Pinkard, Maceo, ca. 1916-1954:

BBB, A - I
CCC, J - Z

Songwriter (b. 1897; d. 1962). Some later editions are included, but most of the song sheets date from the 1920s. (ca. 110 items)

Box 132

Folder

DDD, Platters, The, 1955-1959:

Rhythm and blues vocal group (they performed during the 1950s to the 1970s, with personnel changes). See also 3.8 EEE. (6 items)

EEE, Ram, Buck, 1936-1956:

Popular songwriter and manager of The Platters. See also 3.8 DDD. (16 items)

FFF, Razaf, Andy, 1926-1952:

Jazz lyricist (b. 1895; d. 1973). He collaborated with many well-known composers such as Eubie Blake, Fats Waller, J.C. Johnson, and others. See also folders 3.5 WWW and 3.8 OOO-PPP. Many of the sheets are professional copy. The vocal version of Junk Man Rag appears in 3.8 GGG. (59 items)

GGG, Roberts, Charles Luckyth ("Luckey"), 1913-1942:

Jazz pianist and composer (b. 1887; d. 1968). The folder contains some of his ragtime compositions. (14 items)

Smith, Chris, 1905-1925:

HHH, A - C
see box 138 for D-Y titles

Songwriter and vaudeville entertainer (b. 1879; d. 1949). (52 items)

Box 133

Folder

JJJ, Sweatman, Wilbur C., 1911-1939:

Vaudeville entertainer, bandleader, and songwriter (b. 1882; d. 1961). The folder contains songs by Sweatman including various editions and printings of Down Home Rag. (9 items)

KKK, Temptations, The, 1966-1971:

Rhythm and blues singing and dancing male vocal quintet (organized in 1960, continued to perform through the 1970s). (6 items)

LLL, Thomas, George W., 1921-1945:

Publisher and songwriter (b. 1883; d. 1937). All but one item is from the 1920s. The folder includes one jazz instruction piano folio. (6 items)

MMM, Trent, Jo, 1925-1935:

Lyricist. (19 items)

NNN, Tyers, William H. ("Bill"), 1896-1912:

Composer and conductor (b. 1876; d. 1924). All of the sheets are for solo piano; many are ragtime compositions. See also 3.6 DD. (10 items)

Waller, Thomas Wright ("Fats"), ca. 1926-1978:

OOO, A - I
PPP, J - Z

Jazz pianist/organist and composer (b. 1904; d. 1943). Included are both vocal and piano compositions. See also the folios in folders 3.8 QQQ-RRR. (70 items)

Box 134

Folder

Waller, Thomas Wright ("Fats"), Folios, ca. 1935-1970:

QQQ, A - O
RRR, O - Z

The folios are mostly for solo jazz and boogie woogie piano. (15 items)

SSS, Waters, Ethel, 1927-1940:

Blues singer and actress (b. 1896; d. 1977). (6 items)

Williams, Bert, ca. 1900-1940:

TTT, A - IF

Box 135

Folder

UUU, IL - N

VVV, P - Z

Theater entertainer (b. 1874; d. 1922). A few songs are composed by Williams, however most feature him as the performer or as part of the team of Williams and Walker. Williams and Walker usually performed in vaudeville or on the minstrel stage. Many of the songs are "coon songs." See also the folios in folder 3.8 WWW. (ca. 120 items)

WWW, Williams, Bert, Folios, ca. 1902-1943:

Three song folios and two song and joke folios. (5 items)

XXX, Williams, Clarence, ca. 1899-1940:

Publisher, pianist and songwriter (b. 1893; d. 1965). Several of the songs sheets have photographs of early jazz bands on the cover, including two of A.J. Piron's New Orleans Orchestra. There is one song folio. See also 3.7 G. (48 items)

Williams, Spencer, ca. 1912-1953:

Box 136

Folder

YYY, A - I
ZZZ, J - Z

Popular and musical theater songwriter (b. 1889; d. 1965). The folder includes many editions of two of his most popular songs: I Ain't Got Nobody and Basin Street Blues. Compositions done in collaboration with Clarence Willliams are in folder 3.8 XXX. (70 items)

AAAA, Wilson, Theodore ("Teddy"), 1937-1939:

Jazz pianist (b. 1912). The file contains two jazz piano folios. (2 items)

Miscellaneous Composers and Performers, ca. 1900-1980:

BBBB, A - G

Box 137

Folder

CCCC, H - K
DDDD, L - R
EEEE, S - Z

Included here are African-American composers and performers who did not have enough material to warrant a separate folder. Well-known and not so well-known musicians are present. The variety of musicians is wide, from Nathaniel Dett to Stevie Wonder to Sarah Vaughan. The vocal harmony groups of the 1950s and 1960s (for example the Supremes and the Orioles) are particularly well represented. Most of the material dates from after World War II. (ca. 140 items)

FFFF, Miscellaneous Folios, ca. 1935-1945:

The folios have compositions by a variety of African-American composers. (4 items)

Box 138

Smith, Chris, 1905-1925, continued from Box 132

Folder

III a), D-H titles
III b), I-R titles
III c), S-Y titles

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