Scott Joplin Biography | American Ragtime Composer

Scott Joplin

Born: November 24, 1868
Died: April 1, 1917
Place of Birth: Linden, Texas

Major Notes:

Scott Joplin is noted for his early and important contribution to what is called Ragtime Music.
His father had been a slave at one time but his mother was born free.
Joplin's parents had both been musically inclined and their five children became acquainted early with music.
He was raised and went to school in the town of Texarkana, located on the Texas-Arkansas border.
His mother worked for an employer where the youngster was permitted to play on the family piano.
Because Scott Joplin showed natural talent, he was taught important basics by a local classical music teacher.
In the 1880's, Joplin is thought to have traveled and performed with a number of musical groups playing in bars and clubs.
In St. Louis he met and was influenced by Tom Turpin, a pioneer in ragtime music.
Joplin's interest in playing and composing music at this time varied from opera to ragtime.
By 1898, he had showed his overall skill in composing in that he had sold compositions including a ragtime, two songs, two marches, and a waltz.
Probably his most famous piece, Maple Leaf Rag, was composed in 1899.
This piece put Joplin on top as a ragtime performer and it help to define ragtime as an important music component.
In 1902, Scott Joplin composed an important ballet suite that utilized the rhythms of a new music now officially called "Ragtime."
During the remainder of his life, he devoted much of his time to writing and choreographing a three-act opera, "Treemonisha", which featured a mythical black leader.
One of his pieces, "The Entertainer", reached the hit parade sixty years after his death when it was chosen as the theme song for a movie.
Scott Joplin was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1976.

For detailed research and more information, check out the following: Spectrum Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation Classical Net Wikipedia Carolina Classical AfriClassical.com Please report any broken or incorrect links above to:
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Scott Joplin is noted for his early and important contribution to what is called Ragtime Music.

His father had been a slave at one time but his mother was born free.

Joplin's parents had both been musically inclined and their five children became acquainted early with music.

He was raised and went to school in the town of Texarkana, located on the Texas-Arkansas border.

His mother worked for an employer where the youngster was permitted to play on the family piano.

Because Scott Joplin showed natural talent, he was taught important basics by a local classical music teacher.

In the 1880's, Joplin is thought to have traveled and performed with a number of musical groups playing in bars and clubs.

In St. Louis he met and was influenced by Tom Turpin, a pioneer in ragtime music.

Joplin's interest in playing and composing music at this time varied from opera to ragtime.

By 1898, he had showed his overall skill in composing in that he had sold compositions including a ragtime, two songs, two marches, and a waltz.

Probably his most famous piece, Maple Leaf Rag, was composed in 1899.

This piece put Joplin on top as a ragtime performer and it help to define ragtime as an important music component.

In 1902, Scott Joplin composed an important ballet suite that utilized the rhythms of a new music now officially called "Ragtime."

During the remainder of his life, he devoted much of his time to writing and choreographing a three-act opera, "Treemonisha", which featured a mythical black leader.

One of his pieces, "The Entertainer", reached the hit parade sixty years after his death when it was chosen as the theme song for a movie.

Scott Joplin was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1976.