Scott Joplin
Born: November 24, 1886
Died: April 1, 1917
Scott Joplin is known as the "King of Ragtime" for all of the wonderful rags (a rag is the name of a ragtime composition) he created. His most famous rag is The Maple Leaf Rag which was published in 1899. During his career he wrote around sixty composistions. He died in 1917 due to health complications. On every single one of his compositions he wrote " Do not play fast." because he believed that Ragtime should be played slowly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dI6BZt06U&feature=fvsr
Died: April 1, 1917
Scott Joplin is known as the "King of Ragtime" for all of the wonderful rags (a rag is the name of a ragtime composition) he created. His most famous rag is The Maple Leaf Rag which was published in 1899. During his career he wrote around sixty composistions. He died in 1917 due to health complications. On every single one of his compositions he wrote " Do not play fast." because he believed that Ragtime should be played slowly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dI6BZt06U&feature=fvsr
Tom Turpin
Born: 1873
Died: 1922
Tom Turpin was born in Savannah Georgia and is one of the earlier ragtime composers. He taught himself to play piano and wrote the Harlem Rag and A Ragtime Nightmare. The Harlem Rag was the first published instrumental composition by an African American composer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP7oFkyfvG8
Died: 1922
Tom Turpin was born in Savannah Georgia and is one of the earlier ragtime composers. He taught himself to play piano and wrote the Harlem Rag and A Ragtime Nightmare. The Harlem Rag was the first published instrumental composition by an African American composer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP7oFkyfvG8
Edward Kennedy"Duke"Ellington
Born: April 29, 1899
Died: May 24, 1974
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in Washington D.C and was an American pianst, jazz composer, and a bandleader.His friends gave him the nickname Duke because of the flashy way he dressed. He composed thousands of scores and began playing piano at the age of seven. He began to perform professionally at the age of seventeen.
http://www.biography.com/people/duke-ellington-9286338
Died: May 24, 1974
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in Washington D.C and was an American pianst, jazz composer, and a bandleader.His friends gave him the nickname Duke because of the flashy way he dressed. He composed thousands of scores and began playing piano at the age of seven. He began to perform professionally at the age of seventeen.
http://www.biography.com/people/duke-ellington-9286338