arr. John W. Work Jr.

Practice:

John Wesley Work, Jr.

John W. Work Jr. (1871-1925) was born in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Samuella and John Wesley Work. He was the first African-American collector of folk songs and spirituals, and also a choral director, educator and songwriter. His father directed a church choir, some of whose members were also in the original Fisk Jubilee Singers.