[Group of Sheet Music by Bert Williams]

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.: Ski.…