Scott Joplin

USA, 1895–1917

American composer and pianist, known as the King of Ragtime. 'Maple Leaf Rag' and 'The Entertainer' brought African-American vernacular syncopation into published, notated form.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Scott Joplin and 4 artists Scott Joplin influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Scott Joplin?

• Julius Weiss — Weiss taught the young Joplin piano and European form for free in Texarkana — Joplin sent him money until Weiss's death in gratitude.

Which artists did Scott Joplin influence?

• Duke Ellington — Joplin's ragtime was the piano foundation Ellington grew up on as a child.
• George Gershwin — Joplin's ragtime was the foundation from which Gershwin synthesised his jazz-classical language.
• Jelly Roll Morton — Scott Joplin's ragtime was the pianistic foundation from which Morton developed his own early jazz language in New Orleans.
• James P. Johnson — Stride piano grew from ragtime — Johnson's art is the direct documented evolution of the Joplin tradition in New York.