Ragtime
...from a mixed "black" and "white" background. The rhythm is African, the harmony/melody is white (European), and the result is American. One man is chiefly responsible for ragtime's popularity and survival, his name is Scott Joplin. He codified it, wrote it down, made it into an art form. Scott Joplin, the "King of Ragtime" music, was born near Linden, Texas on November 24, 1868. In 1899, the "Maple Leaf Rag" put Scott Joplin on the map. Although Joplin was not a technically great pianist, with his unique compositions he quickly established himself as the king of ragtime composers. There's more to ragtime than syncopation, while some very good ragtime is not of the classic form. But the lines are often blurred. Ragtime's influence on other musical g...