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The King of Ragtime

Scott Joplin. The king of ragtime. A rejuvenator of 1890s popular music. All of thesephrases are synonymous for the infamous African American musician who transformed urban

American music into an expression of the culture, which was growing in intensity and vitality.Joplins music gave birth to the popular ragtime that would become excessively popular during

the late 1800s and early 1900s. His music would encourage young African American musiciansfor the rest of history.

Born in around 1867, Scott Joplin was one of the first post-slavery generations in thesouth of Texas. He immediately formulated his love for music from his family: a father, mother,

and five brothers and sisters, all of whom had a natural melodic gift. Because of his naturaltalent, he was tutored free of charge by German immigrant named Julius Weiss. Together, they

harnessed Joplins skill, primarily through the piano and violin. In an attempt to pursue hismusical dreams, he gladly took a job as a jig-piano player in brothels through the red-light

districts of the South. This relatively dull job gave Joplin insight into the hardships of being an

African American musician during the late-1800s, when segregationist feelings were still atlarge. Joplin found his first major gig with the Worlds Fair in Chicago, where ragtime hadbecome extremely popular. He found fellow musicians with whom he created music to perform

in small venues, such as cafes, saloons, and brothels. The Worlds Fair had a tremendous impacton the culture of Chicago, and successful launched ragtime as one of the most popular music

genres of the time. Luckily for Joplin, he saw the birth of a music phenomenon that he would becredited with by the end of his life.

After this initial introduction to professional life, Scott Joplins work life flourished.After becoming a successful pianist at a gentlemens club, he published his first and what would

become his most famous piece: Maple Leaf Rag to John Stark and Son. He later published hisfirst opera, called A Guest of Honor, and traveled to New York to find a producer. However,

here is where the master met his demise. After failing to find a producer, he fell deep into thepoverty he had known just starting out as a musician. To try to raise some small funds, he

attempted to perform new music for a small crowd, which was unaccustomed to raw Africanmusic, and left unimpressed. He eventually suffered from tertiary syphilis and was admitted to

the Manhattan State Hospital, a mental institution, where he died from dementia on April 1,1917.

Scott Joplins story represents the constant struggle that African Americans faced directlyafter the Civil War. In the face of constant segregation and prejudice, Scott Joplin overcame theodds by becoming a very successful musician. However, his inability to reach great fame during

his lifetime sheds some light on the situation in the United States during the time, and how thismindset towards African American musicians changed in the future. It was only 57 years after

his death that his grave was given a marked tombstone, when he was finally crowned the Kingof Ragtime. His legacy only began to live on long after his death, when someone finally

produced his opera A Guest of Honor that had eventually led to his death. Through ScottJoplins success after his death, we are able to capture how the mindset towards African

Americans has changed throughout the years, and how integration continues to improve. ScottJoplin serves as a role model to any young artist who, against all odds, can achieve a legacy.

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