The Pace Phonograph Corporation, New York City, is the first of its kind in the world to be composed only of Colored people. It is presided over by Harry H. Pace, a Colored man who founded it, and it is turning out records reproducing only Negro music sung or played only by Colored musicians. All of its officials and employees are Colored, and its chief purpose is to preserve in vocal form such as are left of the slave-songs of America. Its records are known as the “Black Swan Records,” that are already in much demand and finding large sales.
Today the original and unique, singing of Perry Bradford’s “blues” by Mamie Smith, is attracting admiration and endless praise on both sides of the ocean. Her successful singing for the reproduction of her voice on the records of the Okeh Phonograph Co., has made her the first Colored female singer to so suddenly achieve world fame along that line. It is said that the royalties from her records amount to such a sum that it would gladden and look big in the eyes of even prima donna singers in the operatic world. The records containing her voice are in such demand by the public that the manufacturers turning out the disc have to put on night shifts in conjunction with day shifts in order to fill the orders piled up on their desks. In the fall of 1920 Miss Smith’s stage singing had become so popular that she had to table engagements from Paris and London in order to fill a thirty week touring engagement in the United States.
Band Musicians throughout the world heard of and learned to admire the late James Reese Europe, who was one of the greatest “jazz” musicians the world has ever heard. Of the four best bands overseas during the World War and representing the four greatest nations, James Europe’s American Colored bandmen were in demand more than any of the others, especially in England and France.
At the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904 and at the Panama Exposition held at San Francisco, Cal., in 1915, Major W. H. Loving, as conductor of the famous Philippine Band, was among those who were awarded the highest band honors for being among the greatest bandmasters of the world. Other Colored musicians who have achieved success and recognition as band leaders are quite numerous in America, and a few of them are mentioned herewith; Lieut. Tim Bryan, F. L. Drye, W. H. Howard, W. L. Jackson, C. Wesley Johnson, N. Clarke Smith, A. J. Thomas, W. H. Vodery, and P. G. Lowery who has developed such a great band that yearly throughout the seasons it is to be found with the Ringling Bro. Show as one of its most important bands. W. H. Graham, as well as a great band leader is a talented composer of band music. His home is in Denver, Colorado.
According to the determinations of one of America’s nationally recognized authorities and critics on Negro music composition, the following ten named Colored composers are among the foremost in the United States:
Harry T. Burleigh, whose “Deep River”, “Jean” and “The Soldier” are three of his voice compositions that are among his numerous spirituals and art-songs published by Ricordi & Co., New York City. For his work as a singer and composer, Mr. Burleigh was awarded the 1917 Spingarn Medal.
Melville Charlton, whose piano production: Poeme Crotique is published by Schirmer & Co., New York City.
Will Marion Cook, whose “The Bandanna Land”, “The Casino Girl”, and “The Rain Song” are among his popular choruses in Negro style that are published by Schirmer & Co., New York City. As director of The New York Syncopated Orchestra and the celebrated Clef Club Orchestra, Mr. Cook has won himself a place among the first-place orchestra leaders in America and Europe.
R. Nathaniel Dett, whose chorals: “Chariot Jubilee”, “Listen To The Lambs” and “I’m So Glad Trouble Don’t Last Alway” are among his voice spirituals published by John Church Co., New York City; his piano composition “Magnolia” which is one among others published by Summy & Co., Chicago. A white publication, Musical America of December 17, 1919, said, “If R. Nathaniel Dett had written no other work, his “Chariot Jubilee” would suffice to make his name.” Mr. Dett is also a noted pianist.
Carl Diton, whose pipe Organ production; “Swing Low Sweet, Chariot” is published by Schirmer & Co., New York City, and whose voice composition; “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” is published by Presser & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.