The traditional date given is November 24, 1868, and though that’s probably not correct (late 1867 is more likely), no one knows when it was. So what the hell, happy birthday, Scott Joplin.
Here’s him playing “Maple Leaf Rag.”
He died in a mental institution of dementia associated with tertiary syphilis in 1917.
He was a genius. A lot of people think that he was active during the 1930’s because his music was in The Sting. Of course it was that movie that brought his music back into popularity.
“Weeping Willow” sums up the era he lived in.
My favourite rag: Magnetic Rag, the last published rag of Joplin.
I’m rather partial to Solace, at about this tempo.
This thread prompted me to look for a routine I remember from an old Harry Anderson special. Harry does the shell game, set to an a cappella arrangement of Solace with lyrics by Tony Vincent Isaacs.