Wilbur Sweatman

Wilbur Sweatman

Source:Source: Berresford Rare Records

Born on 7 February 1882 in Brunswick, Missouri, bandleader Wilbur Sweatman began his music career just before the turn of the century, touring with circus bands. Ragtime was in full bloom when Sweatman, a clarinetist, began his career in minstrels and vaudeville. Though he would have a hand in ragtime's later transition to jazz (his the first to be called a "jass" band on a record label) he was considered a little old-fashioned. President McKinley was assassinated the year that Sweatman, age 19, formed his first band in 1901. Theodore Roosevelt was President when in 1903 Sweatman produced a cylinder of 'Maple Leaf Rag' (Scott Joplin) for Metropolitan Music Stores [Edwards/Lord]. He also recorded 'Peaceful Henry' composed by Edward Harry Kelly. Though Sweatman would record numerously and issue some high-selling tunes, it was performing rather than making records that drove his career. The stage brought forth such as playing three clarinets at once, less impressive on a cylinder or disc, particularly as cylinder recordings didn't sound real good, nor acoustic flat discs. It wasn't uncommon, particularly in classical, for musicians to make a few obligatory recordings while avoiding it in general due to poor fidelity. Though that didn't stop some, not until the development of electric recording in the mid twenties did musicians begin to realize the potential of the phonograph, making recording a priority and the record business a goldmine like not before. We need leap ahead ten years to 8 April of 1913 when Sweatman first recorded on flat disc, that being 'Downhome Rag' with the Victor Military Band in Camden, New Jersey, issued on Victor 17340. He recorded that again on 29 December 1913 w Europe's Society Orchestra toward release on Victor 35359:

'Down Home Rag'   Wilbur Sweatman w the Victor Military Band

Recorded 8 April 1913 in Camden, NJ   Issued on Victor 35359

Composition: Sweatman

Also issued on Gramophone 0983

A handful of recordings for Victor followed in 1914 and '15 before two takes each of 'Hawaiian Sunshine' and 'Down Home Rag' in two sessions for Emerson in late 1916, the first with the Emerson String Orchestra, next with the Emerson String Trio.

'My Hawaiian Sunshine'   Wilbur Sweatman w the Emerson Symphony Orchestra

Recorded c Dec 1916 in NYC   Issued on Emerson 7120

Composition: Louis Wolfe Gilbert

Also issued on CD: Jazz Oracle BDW 8046 in 2005

'Down Home Rag'   Wilbur Sweatman w the Emerson String Trio

Recorded c Dec 1916 in NYC   Issued on Emerson 7161

Composition: Sweatman

Also issued on CD: Jazz Oracle BDW 8046 in 2005

The next year in '17 Sweatman began recording for Pathe with his Jass Band. This is believed to be the first instance of "jass" (preceding "jazz") in a band's name on a record label. In two sessions estimated in April or so Sweatman recorded six tracks, among them 'Dance and Grow Thin' and 'Dancing an American Rag'. Sweatman issued above ten titles in both 1918 and '19, those with his Jazz Orchestra and Original Jazz Band. Issues from 1919 alone exceeded 1,000,000 copies.

'Goodbye Alexander'   Wilbur Sweatman w his Jazz Orchestra

Recorded 28 May 1918 in NYC   Issued on Columbia A2596

Personnel: Clarinet: Sweatman   Trumpet: William "Crickett" Smith

Trombone: Arthur Reeves   Piano: Dan Parrish / Palmer Jones   Drums: Henry Bowser

Composition: Sweatman / Henry Creamer

'Ringtail Blues'   Wilbur Sweatman w his Original Jazz Band

Recorded 4 Dec 1918 in NYC   Matrix 78191-2   Issued on Columbia A2682

Personnel: Clarinet: Sweatman   Trumpet: William "Crickett" Smith

Trombone: Major Jackson   Piano: Dan Parrish   Drums: Henry Bowser

Composition: Joseph Robinson / Spencer Williams

'Bluin' the Blues'   Wilbur Sweatman w his Original Jazz Band

Recorded 4 Dec 1918 in NYC   Matrix 78192-1   Issued on Columbia A2682

Personnel: same as 'Ringtail Blues'

Composition: Henry Ragas

'Kansas City Blues'   Wilbur Sweatman w his Original Jazz Band

Recorded 22 March 1919 in NYC   Issued on Columbia A2768

Known personnel: Clarinet: Sweatman   Trumpet: William Hicks

Trombone: John Reeves or Frank Withers   Piano: Dan Parrish

Composition: Euday Bowman

Sweatman issued only slightly over ten titles throughout the twenties.

'Battleship Kate'   Wilbur Sweatman's Brownies

Recorded 10 Oct 1924 in NYC   Issued on Edison Diamond Disc 9781

Composition: Sweatman

'Get It Now' w 'Poor Papa'   Wilbur Sweatman as the Dixie Trio

Recorded c March 1926 in NYC   Matrices 3847-A & 3848-A   Issued on Dandy 5156 & Grey Gull 9781

Personnel: Clarinet: Sweatman   Piano: Walter Hall   Banjo: Harry Batcheldor

Compositions: Pearl & Billy Rose / Harry Woods respectively

Tom Lord's discography has Sweatman recording to as late as two sessions on March 26 and 27, 1935, for Vocalion: 'Battleship Kate', 'The Florida Blues', 'Watcha Gonna Do' and 'The Hooking Cow Blues':

'Whatcha Gonna Do' w 'The Hooking Cow Blues'

Wilbur Sweatman and His Orchestra w Corky Williams

Final recordings: 27 March 1935 in NYC   Matrices 17187-1 & 17188-1

Issued on Vocalion 2983 A & B

Personnel: Clarinet: Sweatman   Trumpet: Russell Smith   Trombone: Calvin Jones

Tuba: Ogese T. McKay   Piano: Benton Heath

Guitar: Lester Miller or Eddie Gibbs   Drums: Zeno Lawrence

Compositions: Williams & Williams / Handy respectively

Also issued on CD: Jazz Oracle BDW 8046 in 2005

Among who played under Sweatman before becoming big-names themselves were Duke Ellington, Cozy Cole and Coleman Hawkins. Though Sweatman may have been able to live on royalties alone he later worked as a booking agent and music publisher before his death in NYC, having lived in Harlem, on 9 March 1961.