May Aufderheide, 1888-1972
Blue ribbon rag by May Aufderheide (Indianapolis, Ind.: J.F. Aufderheide, 1910). Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. The participation of women in the world of ragtime should not come as a great surprise. May Aufderheide was perhaps the most famous woman to pen rags. A finishing school graduate, she was born in Indianapolis in … Continue reading May Aufderheide, 1888-1972 →
Date:1888
Biography
Ben Harney, 1872-1938
Ben. Harney’s Mister Johnson turn me loose : a coon novelty / written, composed and introduced by Ben. Harney. (New York : M. Witmark & Sons, c1896). Sheet Music Collection, The John Hay Library, Brown University Library. Ben R. Harney has been credited as the musician who did the most to introduce ragtime to audiences … Continue reading Ben Harney, 1872-1938 →
Date:1872
Biography
Scott Joplin, 1868-1917
[Portrait of Scott Joplin], taken from American Musician (June 17, 1907). Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress.Scott Joplin’s is the name perhaps most associated with ragtime. Born sometime between the summer of 1867 and mid-January 1868, Joplin’s career took him from a modest homestead on the Texas-Arkansas border to New York’s Tin Pan Alley … Continue reading Scott Joplin, 1868-1917 →
Date:1868
Biography
Joseph Lamb, 1887-1960
[Pastel portrait of Joseph Lamb] by A.J. Wilson, 1959. Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. Joseph Lamb was born in Montclair, New Jersey, in December 1877. A family man who was an anomaly in the contemporary music world, Lamb shunned the ups and downs of show business for a steady job in business. Nevertheless, … Continue reading Joseph Lamb, 1887-1960 →
Date:1887
Biography
James Scott, 1885-1938
James Scott, [n.d.]. Misc. Iconographic Collection, Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. Born in Neosho, Missouri, in February 1885, James Scott was the son of former slaves. After taking music lessons as a boy, he was given his first piano at the age of 16. Scott spent the next several years playing in bands … Continue reading James Scott, 1885-1938 →
Date:1885
Biography
John Stark, 1841-1927
John Stillwell Stark, [n.d.]. Misc. Iconographic Collection, Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. John Stillwell Stark was born in Kentucky in 1841. His family moved to Indiana, where he grew up on a farm.As an adult, Stark moved his own family to Sedalia, Missouri, in 1882–in retrospect, a fortunate move, for it put him … Continue reading John Stark, 1841-1927 →
BiographyMay Aufderheide, 1888-1972 Blue ribbon rag by May Aufderheide (Indianapolis, Ind.: J.F. Aufderheide, 1910). Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. The participation of women in the world of ragtime should not come as a great surprise. May Aufderheide was perhaps the most famous woman to pen rags. A finishing school graduate, she was born in Indianapolis in … Continue reading May Aufderheide, 1888-1972 →
BiographyBen Harney, 1872-1938 Ben. Harney’s Mister Johnson turn me loose : a coon novelty / written, composed and introduced by Ben. Harney. (New York : M. Witmark & Sons, c1896). Sheet Music Collection, The John Hay Library, Brown University Library. Ben R. Harney has been credited as the musician who did the most to introduce ragtime to audiences … Continue reading Ben Harney, 1872-1938 →
BiographyScott Joplin, 1868-1917 [Portrait of Scott Joplin], taken from American Musician (June 17, 1907). Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress.Scott Joplin’s is the name perhaps most associated with ragtime. Born sometime between the summer of 1867 and mid-January 1868, Joplin’s career took him from a modest homestead on the Texas-Arkansas border to New York’s Tin Pan Alley … Continue reading Scott Joplin, 1868-1917 →
BiographyJoseph Lamb, 1887-1960 [Pastel portrait of Joseph Lamb] by A.J. Wilson, 1959. Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. Joseph Lamb was born in Montclair, New Jersey, in December 1877. A family man who was an anomaly in the contemporary music world, Lamb shunned the ups and downs of show business for a steady job in business. Nevertheless, … Continue reading Joseph Lamb, 1887-1960 →
BiographyJames Scott, 1885-1938 James Scott, [n.d.]. Misc. Iconographic Collection, Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. Born in Neosho, Missouri, in February 1885, James Scott was the son of former slaves. After taking music lessons as a boy, he was given his first piano at the age of 16. Scott spent the next several years playing in bands … Continue reading James Scott, 1885-1938 →
BiographyJohn Stark, 1841-1927 John Stillwell Stark, [n.d.]. Misc. Iconographic Collection, Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. John Stillwell Stark was born in Kentucky in 1841. His family moved to Indiana, where he grew up on a farm.As an adult, Stark moved his own family to Sedalia, Missouri, in 1882–in retrospect, a fortunate move, for it put him … Continue reading John Stark, 1841-1927 →