Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

November 24, 1868 in Marshall, TX

Death

:

April 1, 1917 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Scott Joplin was an American composer and pianist who is widely regarded as the "King of Ragtime." He was born on November 24, 1868, in Texarkana, Texas, to a musical family. His father, Giles Joplin, was a former slave and a musician who played the violin, while his mother, Florence Givins, was a singer and banjo player. Joplin showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of seven. He received his first formal music lessons from Julius Weiss, a German music teacher who recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Joplin's parents also supported his musical ambitions and allowed him to practice on a piano they had purchased for him. In 1885, Joplin left Texarkana and traveled to Sedalia, Missouri, where he began playing in local saloons and clubs. Sedalia was a hub of African American culture and music, and Joplin was exposed to a variety of musical styles, including blues, gospel, and ragtime. He quickly became known as a talented pianist and composer, and his reputation grew as he began to publish his own compositions. Joplin's first published work was "Original Rags," which he sold to a music publisher in 1899. The piece was an instant success and helped to establish Joplin as a leading figure in the ragtime movement. Over the next few years, Joplin continued to compose and publish ragtime pieces, including "Maple Leaf Rag," "The Entertainer," and "Elite Syncopations." Joplin's music was characterized by its syncopated rhythms, which gave it a distinctive "ragged" or "ragtime" feel. His compositions were also notable for their complex harmonies and melodic structures, which set them apart from other popular music of the time. Joplin's music was popular with both black and white audiences, and he became one of the most successful composers of his era. In addition to his work as a composer, Joplin was also an accomplished pianist and performer. He toured extensively throughout the United States, playing in theaters, clubs, and concert halls. He also formed his own band, the Scott Joplin Orchestra, which performed his compositions and other popular music of the day. Despite his success, Joplin faced many challenges as an African American musician in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was often subjected to racism and discrimination, and he struggled to gain recognition and respect from white audiences and critics. He also faced financial difficulties, and he was forced to sell the rights to many of his compositions in order to make ends meet. Joplin's health began to decline in the early 1900s, and he was diagnosed with syphilis in 1907. He continued to compose and perform, but his output slowed as his health deteriorated. He died on April 1, 1917, at the age of 49, in a mental institution in New York City. Despite his relatively short career, Joplin's influence on American music was profound. His ragtime compositions helped to pave the way for jazz and other popular music styles, and his legacy continues to be celebrated today. In 1976, Joplin was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to American music.

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