African American Music Entertainment Bert Williams Sheet Music Early 1900s

Description: [Group of Sheet Music by Bert Williams] Author: Williams, Egbert Austin “Bert” Title: [Group of Sheet Music by Bert Williams] Publication: Various places: Various publishers, 1909, 1919-1922 Description: Five songbooks. See description for details. This is a collection of rare sheet music written and/or “introduced by” Bert Williams, one of the first Black superstars of show business and an entertainment icon of his time. Many of the collaborators on the works on offer were also African American. Egbert “Bert” Austin Williams was born in the Bahamas in 1874 and settled with his family in Riverside, California around the age of twelve. In 1893 he joined Martin and Selig's Mastodon Minstrels in San Francisco, where he met George Walker. Walker and Williams wrote and performed a slew of vaudevillian acts, and were deemed the most successful comedy team of their time. In 1902 they debuted “In Dahomey,” the first musical wholly written, directed and performed by African Americans to appear on Broadway, which later brought international fame with a successful British tour. Williams was also one of the most prolific Black recording artists, and the duo's 1901 sessions for the Victor Company are thought to be the first major label recordings by African American performers. Bert signed with Columbia in 1906, releasing over 80 records in his lifetime. In 1910 he became the first Black actor to be regularly featured on Broadway when he joined the Ziegfeld Follies; he stayed until 1919 and eventually claimed top billing for the show. After a few other tours and performances, Williams succumbed to pneumonia and died in 1922. The songbooks on offer here are: 1. Creamer, Henry S. (words); Williams, Bert A. (music). That's A Plenty. Chicago, Ill.: Will Rossiter, MCMIX (1909). 14” x 10½”. Wrappers: red front with photographic image of the young Williams. Pp. [4] + lists and musical notation of publisher's other works to rear and inside both wraps. Good: lacking rear wrapper, moderate wear, some closed tears. The cover announced that it was “A 'Hit' Emphatic in Vaudeville with 'Bert' Williams of Williams and Walker” and was “originally introduced” by Williams. Henry Creamer was a prolific and overlooked African American musical author. His jazz standards have been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, among others, and his musicals have appeared both in vaudeville and on Broadway. OCLC shows one holding, at Tulane. 2. Smith, Chris. (words and music). I Want To Know Where Tosti Went (When He Said “Good-Bye”). New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., MCMXX (1920). 12¼” x 9¼”. Self-wrappers: front with photographic image of Williams in blackface. Pp. 5 + cover images of publisher's other books to rear wrap. Very good minus: edges lightly worn, creased and foxed; a few faint spots and remnants of adhesive tape. “Successfully introduced by Bert Williams in George Le Maire's 'Broadway Brevities' at the New York Winter Garden.” Christopher M. Smith was an African American composer and vaudeville performer, noted for his work with Jimmy Durante. OCLC shows three holdings. 3. De Witt, Francis (lyric); Bowers, Robert Hood (music). The Moon Shines on the Moonshine. New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., MCMXX (1920). 12¼” x 9¼”. Self-wrappers: front with photographic image of Williams in blackface. Pp. 5 + illustrated publisher's ad to rear. Very good: light wear, some dust soiling and a prior owner name written at the top of the front cover. The cover revealed that this piece was “Sung with Sensational Success by Bert Williams . . . of F. Ziegfeld Jr's Ziegfeld Follies.” OCLC shows three holdings. 4. Bowers, Robert Hood. Get Up. New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., MCMXX (1920). 12¼” x 9¼”. Selfwrappers: front with photographic image of Williams in blackface. Pp. 5 + publisher's ad to rear. Very good minus: wrappers lightly foxed, split at foot of spine and chipped at top with small bite and small spot to rear edge. “Introduced by” Bert Williams. With price list for other works by publisher. Not found in OCLC. 5. Skidmore, Will E. and Walker, Marshall (words and music). “It's Nobody's Business But My Own (Deacon Series No. 6). N.Y.: Skidmore Music Co., 1919. 12 3/8” x 9 3/8”. Illustrated self-wrappers. Pp. 3 + publisher's ad to rear. Very good minus: a black and white rendition of wrappers, where we have previously seen color; a few small tears crudely repaired with tape at an earlier date; bit of loss to top corner and tiny tear to bottom edge; lightly scuffed and soiled. The front cover, which noted that this was “Bert Williams' big 1919 riot in Ziegfield's [sic] Frolic,” includes six caricatured blackfaced heads looking up at a photographic image of Williams, also again in blackface. The rear featured small cartoons of Black musicians and musical notation for “Rare Inspirations that come only to Gifted Negro Composers.” The Deacon Series, formed by white composerpublisher Will Skidmore, had a lasting influence in Black vaudeville. OCLC shows 13 holdings over two entries. A fantastic collection of sheet music written and performed by an important African American entertainer. Very good. Seller ID: 8434 Subject: African Americana, Entertainment, Music This item is offered by Langdon Manor Books, LLC, antiquarian booksellers. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information and/or photos and we will respond promptly. We package our items carefully, ship daily, and have a no hassle returns policy--your satisfaction is guaranteed. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksllers (ILAB) and the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) and adhere to their rules of ethics. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED IN PERPETUITY TO BE AUTHENTIC AND ORIGINAL Terms and shipping: Payment is required within 3 days of purchase. Payment via paypal unless other arrangements have been made prior to purchase or bidding. Shipping in the continental United States, with delivery confirmation is $4.00 International shipping via USPS priority is based on weight and location. International purchases under 4 pounds and under $100 may be shipped via USPS First Class. Texas residents will be charged 6.25% sales tax. Please note that any bookends you see in a photograph are NOT included as part of this purchase. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. 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Price: 2350 USD

Location: Houston, Texas

End Time: 2024-12-07T20:30:05.000Z

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