Nicknamed "King of Ragtime," Scott Joplin paved the way for early Jazz using syncopated, off-beat rhythm. He was an American black composer and pianist, who made his name after the publication of his Maple Leaf Rag, for piano, which sold over a million copies. He was among the first black composers to have his works published.
His music “Piano Rags” particularly The Entertainer, with film arrangement of Marvin Hamlisch, has been made popular as the main theme to the 1973 blockbuster film “Sting” starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
Early Life of Scott Joplin
Joplin, was born in Texas on November 24, 1868. He was the son of a former slave, however, both parents were musically talented, and from them he got his first piano lessons. At 15, he left home to pay his way playing in bars and brothels.
Some years later, in 1893, he was becoming known, enough to play at the Chicago World’s Fair. He set up his first band.
Two years later, he studied music at George Smith College for Negroes in Missouri.
Scott Joplin's Career
In 1899, his bestseller Maple Leaf Rag was published. He also published many rags, including the acclaimed "The Entertainer" and the "The Ragtime Dance" and later produced more extended compositions. Some of those he published were collaborative.
"The Entertainer" ragtime piece became extremely famous in 1973, for its arrangement by composer Marvin Hamlisch in the blockbuster film The Sting starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The story is about two con men who avenge the death of their friend on a gangster. The film won an Academy award-winning score in music.
In 1903 Joplin formed the Scott Joplin Ragtime Opera company, initially to stage his opera A Guest of Honor. He settled in New York City in 1907, where he also started work on his opera Treemonisha, which was not successful in his lifetime.
Joplin's Death and Treemonisha Revival
He died severely depressed in 1972, aged 50, when another jazz great Duke Ellington was 18 years old. The same year after Joplin's death, Treemonisha was revived.
Scott Joplin's Awards and Legacy
Among his awards, Joplin was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. He also got the Pulitzer Prize award for music in 1976, Posthumous.
Scott Joplin goes down in musical history as a jazz composer with his reputation resting on classic rags, paving the way for early jazz.
Major Works of Scott Joplin:
- Maple Leaf Rag, for piano 1899
- The Entertainer and Elite Syncopations, for piano 1902
- A guest of Honor, opera 1903
- The Ragrtime Dance, for piano 1906
- Pine Apple Rag, for piano 1908
- Wall Street Rag, for piano 1909
- Treemonisha, opera 1916
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