Wilbur Sweatman facts for kids

Wilbur Coleman Sweatman (born February 7, 1882 – died March 9, 1961) was an American musician. He was a composer, bandleader, and played the clarinet. Sweatman was famous for his ragtime and dixieland jazz music.

He was one of the first African-American musicians to become well-known across the entire United States. Wilbur Sweatman also helped break down racial barriers in music, bringing together musicians of different backgrounds in his groups.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Wilbur Sweatman was born on February 7, 1882, in Brunswick, Missouri. His parents were Matilda and Coleman Sweatman. His father ran a barbershop in their riverside town. Wilbur had two older sisters, Eva and Lula.

When Wilbur was very young, his father moved away. His mother kept the barbershop running and also rented out rooms in their home to make sure the family was cared for. Wilbur went to the segregated Elliott School in Brunswick. After school, he helped out at the barbershop.

Wilbur's older sister, Eva, taught him how to play the piano. Later, he taught himself to play the violin. He then learned the clarinet, which became his main instrument. Over time, he also learned to play the trombone, bass clarinet, and organ.

Wilbur Sweatman's Music Career

Wilbur Sweatman started his professional music career in the late 1890s. He was still a teenager when he began touring with circus bands. First, he played with Professor Clark Smith's Pickaninny Band. Then, he joined the P. G. Lowery Band.

By 1901, Sweatman became the youngest orchestra leader in America. He led the band for the Forepaugh and Sells Circus. He also played briefly with famous musicians like W.C. Handy.

First Recordings and Chicago Days

In late 1902, Sweatman started his own dance band in Minneapolis. There, he made his first recordings in 1903. These were on phonograph cylinders, which were early forms of music recording. One of these recordings is believed to be the first version of Scott Joplin's famous song, "Maple Leaf Rag." However, no copies of this recording exist today.

In 1908, Sweatman moved to Chicago. He played in many places, like the Pekin Inn and the Monogram Theater. He became the bandleader at the Grand Theater and started to get noticed. People even called him "Sensational Swet." Besides performing, Sweatman wrote and arranged music for his band. He also helped other musicians by arranging their music.

Vaudeville Star

By 1911, Wilbur Sweatman was a full-time performer on the vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. Sweatman became famous for playing three clarinets at the same time!

One newspaper described his performance: "Wilbur C. Sweatman has a style and grace... and the soulfulness of expression that he blends into his tones is something wonderful." People loved his medley of popular songs and "rags," which made everyone want to dance.

He wrote many ragtime songs, and "Down Home Rag" (1911) was his most successful. Many bands in America and Europe recorded this song.

Moving to New York and Friendship with Scott Joplin

Sweatman moved to New York in 1913 and toured widely. He was one of the few Black solo performers who regularly appeared on the big vaudeville stages for white audiences. Around this time, he became close friends with Scott Joplin, a very famous ragtime composer.

Joplin even named Sweatman as the person who would manage his estate after he died. Joplin's music papers, including songs that had not been published, were given to Sweatman. Wilbur took good care of them and shared them with anyone who asked. However, as Joplin's music became less popular, fewer people asked to see them. After Sweatman died in 1961, these important papers were put into storage. Their current location is unknown.

Early Jazz Recordings

In December 1916, Sweatman recorded for Emerson Records. His song "Down Home Rag" was among these recordings. Some music experts believe these recordings are some of the earliest examples of jazz music ever recorded.

Seeing how popular bands like the Original Dixieland Jass Band were, Sweatman changed his band's sound in early 1917. His band had five saxophonists and Sweatman on clarinet. This group soon signed with Pathé. They recorded ragtime songs and other popular hits of the day.

Wilbur Sweatman was the first African American to make recordings labeled as "Jass" and "Jazz." Some people argue that Sweatman recorded an older style of jazz even before the Original Dixieland band. In 1917, he also became one of the first Black musicians to join ASCAP, a group that protects the rights of composers.

Success with Columbia Records

In 1918, Sweatman signed with Columbia Records, a major music label. His popularity grew very quickly. His band also made shorter, anonymous recordings for Columbia's "Little Wonder" line, which were budget songs about 90 seconds long.

Sweatman's first release with Columbia, "Regretful Blues"/"Everybody's Crazy," sold 140,000 copies. At that time, selling a third of that amount was considered a huge hit! Sweatman's songs sold over a million copies in 1919 alone, which was the peak of his fame. His best-selling song was "Kansas City Blues" (1919), which sold 180,000 copies. However, by 1920, his sales started to slow down. This might have been because his unique jazz style was becoming less popular. Also, bigger, more modern jazz bands like Ted Lewis were becoming very popular.

Later Years and Legacy

Wilbur Sweatman continued to play his classic style of music in live shows across the Northeast. Many famous musicians played in his band over the years, including Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, and Cozy Cole. Sweatman also kept recording for other labels like Gennett, Edison, Grey Gull, and Victor.

He often played at the well-known Harlem club called Connie's Inn. He continued performing in New York through the 1940s and early 1950s. However, he started to focus more on his music publishing business and booking other talented artists.

His older songs provided Sweatman with a steady income. For example, in 1937, his song "Down Home Rag" was played on the radio over 2,000 times. Sweatman earned money, called royalties, every time his song was played.

Wilbur Sweatman passed away in New York City on March 9, 1961. His daughter, Barbara, first inherited his business and personal papers. Eventually, his sister Eva received the estate, which also included the important papers of Scott Joplin.