Scott Joplin stands as one of the music world’s most influential figures, a creator whose tunes slip into daily life even when many listeners don’t know his name. He became synonymous with ragtime and earned the nickname King of Ragtime for shaping a sound that still feels essential a century later. His music fused grace with drive, punctuated melodies, and a rhythm that could make a room snap to attention. Long after his time, audiences in North America and beyond continue to discover the stubborn, joyful energy that his compositions radiate.
Born in northern Texas in 1868, Joplin grew up in a family of laborers who used music as a steady companion. He learned from several local teachers, sang in a small vocal quartet, and taught mandolin and guitar in his early years. The pull of music was strong enough to leave the day job behind; he traveled through the American South as a working musician, absorbing regional styles and sharpening his ear for rhythm and form.
Joplin crossed from rural life to the city for the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, where he formed his first serious band and performed as a cornet player while arranging the group’s music. The era’s social climate kept many Black performers from formal events, yet Joplin and his colleagues found opportunities in nearby venues, bars, and informal gatherings where their sound attracted enthusiastic crowds. Those performances helped spark a new energy in ragtime and pushed Joplin toward national recognition.
Returning to the South to tour and teach piano, Joplin mentored a new generation of ragtime talents while continuing to compose and publish his pieces. Maple Leaf Rag, issued in 1899, brought him sudden fame and financial reward, propelling ragtime into a broader spotlight and inspiring countless imitators and admirers. It was his most celebrated hit during his lifetime and remains a touchstone in American music history.
Toward the end of his life, tremor-like symptoms began to interfere with his playing, yet he persisted in composing and performing as his health allowed. His condition gradually worsened, eventually leading to hospitalization and his death in 1917. Despite the hardship, Joplin’s work endured, continuing to influence generations of musicians long after his passing.
In the decades that followed, Joplin’s music experienced a revival, with reissues, performances, and film soundtracks renewing interest in ragtime. The Entertainer became a modern signature piece, introducing the world to a nimble, syncopated style that remains instantly recognizable. Through these rediscoveries, Joplin’s status as a foundational figure in American music history has only grown.