Scott Joplin, also known as the King of Rags, was an American composer and pianist who revolutionized the world of music. Born into a music-loving working class African-American family, Joplin’s talent for playing the banjo and piano was evident from a young age. Despite facing discrimination, he persevered and became a traveling musician, playing in brothels and eventually gaining recognition for his unique style. Joplin’s legacy includes over 100 original ragtime pieces, with his most famous composition being the Maple Leaf Rag. Although his popularity declined after his death, Joplin’s music experienced a resurgence in the 1970s and he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to music.
Quick Facts
- Died At Age: 48
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Belle Jones (m. 1899–1903), Freddie Alexander (m. 1904–1904), Lottie Stokes (m. 1909–1917)
- Father: Giles Joplin
- Mother: Florence Givens
- Siblings: Monroe Joplin, Myrtle Joplin, Ossie Joplin, Robert Joplin, William Joplin
- Born Country: United States
- African American Men
- African American Singers
- Died on: April 1, 1917
- Place of death: Manhattan, New York City, United States
- Notable Alumni: George R. Smith College
- Cause of Death: Dementia
- U.S. State: Texas
- More Facts
- Education: George R. Smith College
- Awards: 1976 – Pulitzer Prize – Grammy Award – Academy Award for Best Original Song Score and Adaptation
Childhood & Early Life
Scott Joplin is believed to have been born on November 24, 1868 in Texarkana, Texas. However, there is some uncertainty about his exact birthdate, as the June 1870 census lists him as a two-year-old in Linden, Texas. His father, Giles Joplin, was a former slave and his mother, Florence Givens, was freeborn. Scott was the second of six children, with an elder brother named Monroe and four younger siblings.
Early Musical Influences
Not much is known about Scott Joplin’s childhood, except that he grew up on a farm and listened to his father play the violin and his mother play the banjo. He learned to play the banjo himself. The family eventually moved to Texarkana, where Scott started attending school while his father and brother worked as railroad laborers. To supplement the family income, his mother took up house cleaning and laundry. It was at one of her employer’s houses that Scott first started playing the piano at the age of seven.
Introduction to Piano and Classical Music
At the age of eleven, Scott Joplin caught the attention of a German piano teacher named Julius Weiss. Weiss began giving him free lessons in piano, ear training, sight reading, and harmony. He also introduced Scott to classical music, particularly opera. When a lumberman named Col. R. W. Rodgers bought a new piano, he sold the old one to the Joplin family at a discounted rate. Scott spent all his spare time playing the piano, which caused tension in the household. While his mother encouraged his musical pursuits, his father wanted him to learn something practical.
Early Career
In the early 1880s, Scott Joplin’s father moved in with another woman, while Scott continued his studies with Weiss until 1884. He then left for Sedalia, Missouri. He returned home briefly in 1884 to work as an assistant teacher or railroad laborer, and remained in the area until around 1888. During this time, he performed in a vocal quartet and played the piano in and around Texarkana.
Becoming an Itinerant Pianist
Around 1888, Scott Joplin left Texarkana to become an itinerant pianist. He quickly realized that opportunities for Black musicians were limited, but he continued to travel and play the piano in brothels in various Midwestern towns, spending a significant amount of time in St. Louis. In 1893, he attended the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and formed a band. Although African-Americans had limited opportunities to perform at the Exposition, Joplin became a favorite of the audience.
Success and Major Works
In 1899, Scott Joplin met a young lawyer named Robert Higdon, who introduced him to music store owner and publisher John Stark. Stark published Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” under the condition that Joplin would receive 1% royalty on each sale. The ragtime composition became a huge success, selling half a million copies by 1900 and earning Joplin a steady income. He went on to publish many more important works, including “Elite Syncopations,” “The Entertainer,” and “The Ragtime Dance.”
Later Life and Legacy
In 1907, Scott Joplin moved to New York City and began writing his second opera, “Treemonisha,” which celebrated African-American culture and emphasized the importance of education. Although the score received positive reviews, it was not fully performed during Joplin’s lifetime. He founded the Scott Joplin Music Company in 1913 and continued to publish music until his death.
Scott Joplin’s most famous work, “Maple Leaf Rag,” earned him the nickname “King of Rags” and became a model for ragtime compositions. In 1976, he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Music for his opera “Treemonisha.” Joplin’s personal life was marked by tragedy, including the death of his daughter and two of his wives. He died in 1917 from complications of syphilis and was buried in an unmarked grave. In recent years, his grave has been marked and his house in St. Louis has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark. He was also honored with a commemorative stamp and induction into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.