John Wesley Work

John Wesley Work Jr. (August 6, 1871 – September 7, 1925) was a musicologist choral director, educationalist singer and songwriter. He was the first African American collector of folk songs and spirituals.

Birth and Death Data: Born Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States), Died September 7, 1925 (Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, composer, lyricist, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-8420 10-in. 12/1/1909 Swing low, sweet chariot Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8421 10-in. 12/1/1909 My old Kentucky home Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8422 10-in. 12/1/1909 I couldn't hear nobody pray Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8450 10-in. 12/8/1909 Little David, play on yo' harp Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8451 10-in. 12/9/1909 There is a balm in Gilead Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8452 10-in. 12/9/1909 Roll Jordan roll Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8453 10-in. 12/9/1909 Negro lullaby Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor C-8454 12-in. 12/9/1909 Old black Joe Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8455 10-in. 12/9/1909 Golden slippers Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-8500 10-in. 12/21/1909 Great campmeeting Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9920 10-in. 2/6/1911 The ole ark Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9921 10-in. 2/6/1911 Good news Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9922 10-in. 2/6/1911 Done what you tole me to do Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9923 10-in. 2/6/1911 Po' Mo'ner got a home at last Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9924 10-in. 2/6/1911 In bright mansions above Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9925 10-in. 2/7/1911 My soul is a witness Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9926 10-in. 2/7/1911 Band of Gideon Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-9927 10-in. 2/7/1911 I know the Lord laid His hands on me Fisk University Jubilee Singers Male vocal quartet vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor D6RC-5927 12-in. 6/5/1946 Christmas carols, part 3 RCA Victor Chorale ; Robert Shaw Mixed vocal chorus, unaccompanied arranger  
Columbia 81258 10-in. 10/3/1923 Jesus, lover of my soul Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Work, John Wesley," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106547.

Work, John Wesley. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106547.

"Work, John Wesley." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106547

External Sources

Wikipedia: John Wesley Work

Discogs: John Wesley Work

Allmusic: John Wesley Work

IMSLP: John Wesley Work

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Work, John Wesley, 1873-1925 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n92053236

Wikidata: John Wesley Work - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6263609

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/

MusicBrainz: John Wesley Work - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/6b207dd1-76eb-4696-b9c3-21c1e74c1891

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/1505496 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/1505496

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