Scott Joplin’s Forgotten Parlor Songs

African American Song Writers In the 19th century, African-American tunesmiths struggled to have their compositions published. The institution of slavery had only ended during the Civil War, and it would take years before business opportunities—musical and otherwise— would become within the reach of freemen of color. The first prominent black American songwriter was James “Jimmy” Bland who penned such long-lived hits as “Oh! Dem Golden Slippers” and “Hand Me Down My Walking Cane” in 1879 and 1880, respectively, both now considered standards. Bland’s best-known song is “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” penned in 1878 it became the official song of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bland wrote more than 600 songs, but just 50 or so were ever published. Piano Rolls and Sheet Music Remember, this was decades before recording and radio, and even piano rolls wouldn’t become popular until 1909. So, after Congress approved the process of copyrighting music in 1831, the only way a 19th century songwriter could score a hit was by selling sheet music, and earning a few pennies for each copy sold. That meant securing the services of publishers who could have the charts printed and marketed. Sheet music routinely sold for between 25 and 60 cents, roughly $6 to $10 in 21st century money. In those days, if a family wanted to hear a popular new song, they would buy the she