Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin, born on November 24, 1868 and died on April 1, 1917, was an American composer and pianist, known as the 'King of Ragtime'. His 'Maple Leaf Rag' was a genre-defining hit. Raised in a musical family, Joplin developed his skills in Texarkana, Arkansas, teaching and performing as an itinerant musician. He published music from 1895, with his 'Maple Leaf Rag' achieving fame and a steady income. Joplin moved to St. Louis and New York successively, attempting to produce an opera. Succumbing to dementia caused by neurosyphilis, he died in a mental asylum at 48.