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Down Home Rag

Wilbur Sweatman

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This recording was made in New York City during December of 1916 featuring Wilbur Sweatman clarinet, accompanied by "The Emerson Trio" consisting of Unknown clarinet, piano, & drums.

*"Down Home Rag" was composed by Wilbur Sweatman.

Wilbur Sweatman made this recording cited by some historians as one of the earliest examples of jazz on record for the small Emerson label at the end of 1916. In an interesting turn of events the star clarinetist became a good friend of Scott Joplin around 1913. Upon his death four years later Wilbur Sweatman was named executor of Joplin's estate leaving all of the celebrated ragtime pianist's worldly possessions in his capable hands ...

"It was both a symbolic and literal passing of the torch ... from ragtime to the jazz age".