Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Scott Joplin sits near the summit of American music for me, not merely as the King of Ragtime but as a composer who dignified a popular form into something lasting. The Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer still leap off the page with that buoyant syncopation, yet behind the joy was a Black artist in post-Reconstruction Texas fighting for recognition the establishment withheld in his lifetime. The 1976 Pulitzer Special Citation, nearly six decades after his death, is both a vindication and an indictment of how late credit often comes. To me, his enduring presence in everyday culture is the real prize.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Scott Joplin
- Name (Japanese)
- スコット・ジョプリン
- Reading
- すこっと・じょぷりん
- Born
- March 31, 1868 – April 1, 1917
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Dragon
- Origin
- Texarkana, Texas, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- pianist / composer / banjoist / jazz musician / musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- George R. Smith College
Awards & achievements
- 1976 Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards
- 1970 Songwriters Hall of Fame
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Maple Leaf Rag | — | |
| Notable work | The Entertainer | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Scott Joplin born?
March 31, 1868 – April 1, 1917.
Where is Scott Joplin from?
Scott Joplin is from Texarkana, Texas, United States.
What does Scott Joplin do?
Scott Joplin works as pianist, composer, banjoist, jazz musician, musician.
What is Scott Joplin known for?
Notable works include Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer.
Pianist — see all → · Composer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.