Why Scott Joplin Was America's First Pop Star

[@jackorion7157]

"When I'm dead twenty-five years, people are going to begin to recognize me." Scott Joplin is truly one the greatest American composers and the king of Ragtime.

[@8064goldenstar]

yep you got that right

[@jollylawyer9999]

Its really Tom Brier

[@SQUAREHEADSAM1912]

He passed away 5 years later in 1917 from severe dementia. He was only 49 years old.

[@Persun_McPersonson]

@@jollylawyer9999 They were both fantastic ragtime composers, you can't really say one is better than the other because their styles are very distinct.

[@beware_the_moose]

"NOT FAST" Everyone: 300bpm...

[@buhlawkaydaboy6129]

T C I was dying when I came across this

[@jakdaxter6033]

ngl, if I could play it, I'd play it that fast too xD

[@nowhereman6019]

God, where can I find the right version

[@zDonaldson1]

@@nowhereman6019 look up imslp, it's a free database of all public domain music (all music published before around 1925 is public domain)

[@mrgrinch8540]

@@jakdaxter6033 of course you would, speed = impressive now doesn't it?

[@autonomouscollective2599]

I once started playing “The Entertainer” on the piano. My little daughter came out of her room, all excited. “It’s the ice cream truck song!”

[@mmbmbmbmb]

how lovely ~ thank you for this delightful share !

[@shanewright2772]

Before his death, Joplin told Wilbur Sweatman, one of the early superstars of Jazz (still then called Jas) and a devoted fan that he could have have all of Joplin's notes and manuscripts to do with them what he would. It's due to the dedication Sweatman, who died in 1961, and his daughter, that the bulk of the information we have on Joplin including, I believe, the complete score for Treemonisha. Aside from his devoted curatorship of Joplin's music, Sweatman had an incredible and fascinating career that saw him become, arguably, the first African American artist with a nationwide fan base based almost entirely on record sales. He was also a fantastic clarinet player, suffice to say.

[@SpiralIntoAVoid]

Shane Wright Interesting

[@MooPotPie]

Copies of all of Joplin's published works, including "Treemonisha", are in the Library Of Congress and have been since they were submitted by Joplin or his publishers.

[@mcdonoghrahloh459]

And who has received monies from these works?

[@jmusto2116]

@@SpiralIntoAVoid There is no complete score to Treemonisha. I recorded a complete performance with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra years ago, and the score had to be reconstructed by the PRO director, Rick Benjamin.

[@trawlins396]

@@jmusto2116 thank you

[@RaverHates]

The more I learn about African American musicians and composers, the more I realise that ALL my fave music started with them

[@peelslowly28]

This country was built on their art, and though it took a long time, they're finally getting the recognition they deserve.

[@619victor]

@@peelslowly28 Bit of an exaggeration there.

[@ilitardo160]

Victor Fernandes it is but seriously African Americans music influences the majority of popular music right now

[@jonnuanez2843]

Um...African-American music has always been acknowledged as influencing popular music. No one has ever denied it.

[@jebatman756]

Well, American culture wouldn't exist today without that intriguing blend of black and white cultures from the beginning...

[@TrashTheory]

It sucks man. You try to make a video where all the music is in the public domain, being that all the composers mentioned are more than 75 years dead, and UMG still claim it as theirs. Awesome video as always.

[@zakkaczka7464]

So true

[@lisablack8892]

Black peoples never owned their music any way dead or alive .

[@HasufelyArod]

@@lisablack8892 One day, we'll end them, and by that I don't really mean taking their lives.

[@cjjones258]

Good to see that he's getting the recognition he deserves. Well done.

[@arthurmartins5495]

Gladly he has been recognized throughout these years

[@doncomputer5931]

Scott Joplin has always been one of my favorite composers.

[@tss3393]

Scott Joplin, like Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin, never died. He simply became music.

[@arikgr]

The first composer who sold a million records deserved a Polyphonic video. One of the best to date. Thank you.

[@lilMissmAlice]

Most of this was before records. He sold one million copies of sheet music of a single song, which people then learned to play on their pianos at home because they liked hearing the music so much. So yeah, he wrote a bangin' song that everyone wanted to dance to, but somebody had to actually play it so that everyone else could dance. Imho, that's even more impressive than a million records.

[@spanishmasterpieces5203]

No. Johann Strauss sold more than a million copies of sheetmusic before Joplin! In 1870's with his Blue Danube!

[@AdamSalaah]

Moral of the story: This world is crazy and doesn't know what it wants. BUT if this world calls you Crazy, for knowing what you want and pursuing those ideas... Then you're probably on the right track.. and you're in good company

[@awvalenti]

What an awesome reflection! Thank you!

[@ProjectMATHEW]

That end really got me emotional. That's such a beautifully sad and uplifting story. Once again polyphonic your a damn hem keeping these stories of these people alive

[@sebastianelytron8450]

I'm just gonna say it straight-up, this is the best Polyphonic video yet.

[@musicianwren9248]

It's a great video, but the one on Stevie Wonder is also amazing!

[@LaMarcGasoldridge]

John Bonham video is great too

[@sheddingmyvelvet]

I think his jack white/white stripes vids are really good

[@michaelhedworth2976]

dementia before 48? christ that's unlucky

[@wingracer1614]

Syphilis without modern treatments will do that to you. That being said, I know someone that works at a care facility for people with dementia. While most of her patients are elderly, there are some teenagers and 20 somethings there.

[@sethmurrin5273]

@@wingracer1614 that's really rough, my great-grandmother died from Alzheimer's that started with dementia. I couldn't imagine anyone having to go through their own mind corroding away like that, let alone a teenager.

[@MaziarYousefi]

Syphilis on its own, alone can do that, it has three stages, it can do literally everything if remain untreated, from cardiovascular complications to dementia. Even without syphilis dementia can occur at any age, any age, not youngs, teenagers, any age. From genetics to substance abuse to psychological factors,... can attribute to dementia, dementia is a very wide term in medicine.

[@3737raider]

48 was actually old for a Black man during that time.

[@graceandpeace4414]

Syphilis will do that to ya.

[@robbiebalboa]

2019: you kids and your dem mumble rap. 1899: You kids and your Ragtime music.

[@raczgreen6053]

1945: The kids danced to Bebop

[@isak8059]

''You kids and your drumbeats mixed with autotune, off tune.

[@martineldritch]

18th century "You kids and your pianoforte"

[@davidwesley2525]

@@martineldritch . 1795. You kids & your Mozart music 🎶 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@alephmale3171]

Just wait, in 15 years today’s “mumble rap” will also be recognized as an integral addition to contemporary/future music, and a certain evolution of scatting in Jazz. Then it will be legitimate, and your favorite white musician will have become famous from doing the same thing.

[@d3ada5tronaut]

god the end of this video made me so happy. He may have had a tragic life but knowing got justice, even so late, still warms my heart

[@stischer47]

When I was a child in the early 50s, my grandmother would play "Maple Leaf Rag" on our upright. It wasn't until later that I realized that it was the "pop music" of her youth.

[@richardgoffin-lecar1951]

The "Ragtime Revival" reached the UK around 1973, when I had just started at secondary school. Chatham House Grammar School in Ramsgate. I recall that just about every boy in the school who could play the piano started to teach themselves The Entertainer, and the Maple Leaf Rag. Some rather better than others! Such an inspiration - I still play them today!

[@brandonpage7087]

Scott Joplin was born in Texarkana, Texas, not far from where i live. It's so awesome that someone who was SO influential to popular American music, was a local, from my area! At least, in his early years. There's long been a mural of Joplin in Texarkana.

[@jachism]

He was actually born outside of Marshall, TX, and spent his childhood in Texarkana, AR (Miller County).

[@k012957]

I’d like to see your take on Frank Zappa.

[@gaelenmckee6400]

k012957 That would be so good

[@noahmarks732]

Suzy Creamcheese, what's got into ya?

[@severini8153]

Holy crap this could become an trilogy

[@thomaswalz3515]

Frank... yeah... not easy to listen to, but brilliant. Lowell George (Little Feat) was in Frank's band. During this time, he wrote "Willin." Frank fired him saying... We do not play songs about truck driving in this band." Willin has sold more more than Frank's entire career's output... but at the same time... I can't hear Frank doing it... Country based music is the opposite of what Frank does.... oil and water...

[@mcdonoghrahloh459]

Laurel Canyon!!

[@gordondell8691]

I've been saying for a very long time now that if I ever wrote a doctoral thesis, it would be on how Joplin was arguably the single most influential composer on popular music of the twentieth century. His influence can be felt in every modern genre. Excellent video and many thanks for making it.

[@mr.nugget8412]

Dang I didn't know he was THAT influential, or at least not as influential as you describe him

[@Doug19752533]

according to Lottie Joplin (Scott's widow), when Alexander's Ragtime Band came out in 1911, Joplin had been trying to publish Treemonisha around Tin Pan Alley, and said of Berlin's song "Thats my tune!" (referring to the stunning similarity to 'A Real Slow Drag', the finale of Treemonisha). She said that he knew he could never prove plagiarism, and had to re-write "A Real Slow Drag" altering it slightly from its original form.

[@SQUAREHEADSAM1912]

Yes I’ve heard that too. And I’d believe it. According to Joplin’s most accurate biographer (Ed Berlin) they three pieces (Alexander’s ragtime band, A Real Slow Drag and Marching onwards) share a very close resemblance.

[@LordDragon1965]

The Sting is how I remember the Entertainer. When I first saw it (on TV in 1975 or 76) and loved it from that day to this.

[@stillirise7813]

Excellent movie i watch it every time its on tv

[@shawndavidclare294]

I studied ragtime for years in my teens and early twenties...the beauty and depth of his melodies and harmonic style moved and excited me to no end...heart breaking that his life was so hard An American great..unparalleled! Long live the king!!

[@adampalm4444]

Scott Joplin is the only composer from the USA recognized worldwide as being as important as the likes of Mozart, etc.

[@donaldsaigh8785]

How would Joplin be more important than Gershwin, or Ives, or Copland?

[@adampalm4444]

@@donaldsaigh8785 ask the international list of scholars on the subject for clarification. Personally, I can see and understand the reasoning behind both sides of this argument and find it all to be very intriguing.

[@Reichthoff]

@@donaldsaigh8785 the same way bach is more "important" than mozart or beethoven; he started it all.

[@donaldsaigh8785]

@@Reichthoff What do you mean "he started it all"? There were classical composers writing before Joplin like Chadwick and Macdowell. And there were popular composers like Stephen Foster writing as well. If anything, Foster would have to be considered more influential than Joplin since his manner of songwriting influenced the men who created the 'Great American Songbook'. Joplin was a master of a sub-genre of popular music, ragtime.

[@Reichthoff]

@@donaldsaigh8785 yeah but he was the one who popularised black music to the whites. It was thanks to him that jazz became mainstream.

[@ldr408]

You always amaze me on how well researched, honest, and transparent you are all the time. Need more people like you!

[@levmatta]

Do one of these on Louis Armstrong. Please

[@cosmicspider-man5184]

levmatta sex

[@levmatta]

@@cosmicspider-man5184 Sorry I did not follow

[@jettycomlego]

@@levmatta He talks about him and ella briefly in his video about "Summertime"

[@cosmicspider-man5184]

levmatta sex

[@badcornflakes6374]

​@@levmatta Sorry I did follow

[@TheMadisonMachine]

Since I was a kid, Scott Joplin has been my favorite composer for piano. "Bethena," "Solace- A Mexican Serenade" and "Pineapple Rag" are my favorites

[@RoryVanucchi]

Nice post.. Any student of piano owes Joplin a nod of appreciation

[@peelslowly28]

"After laying unmarked for half a century, Scott Joplin's grave finally received a marker in 1974." I don't know why but when he said that I just got the biggest smile on my face. RIP Scott

[@SQUAREHEADSAM1912]

Yes, the only thing to mark it was a wooden cross, but only for a few years. In 1978 he was finally given a proper grave, I’ve been to it, and it considering how famous he was he deserves more.

[@ticmasta7584]

wow the end of this video actually made me tear up haha. Great to see him being recognised. Such a shame his life ended the way it did but post humous recognition is better than nothing.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

*_Top 10 Most Talented Musicians That Eminem Is Afraid To Diss_*

[@fixthesegames6303]

Kendrick

[@godofwar5000]

@@fixthesegames6303 I don't think he's afraid to diss him, more like impressed enough that he doesn't want or need to.

[@antonylinteau3408]

Mr. Friendship J. Cole

[@clabbert7694]

Now I’m just imagining Eminem rapping over maple leaf rag. It’s weird

[@gerardomorenoperez7120]

When Ludovico threatment, Mr. Friendchip is an ironic name, haha

[@albiesaa9874]

KZbin really needed a big video about genius Scott Joplin. Than you so much, Polyphonic.

[@unknownguy5001]

I love your videos!! Especially the ones about artists from the past!

[@timsheneman1826]

'Solace' is still a favorite by Mr. Joplin.... one of those I liked right away - first listen. Here in the States, it was the B-Side of 'The Entertainer' - on 45 Marvin Hamlisch, from 'The Sting' soundtrack ( a song is more than words)

[@beware_the_moose]

Solace is amazing.

[@jfiorello68]

Solace is the only piano piece I put any real effort into learning.

[@SgtPepper1917]

Solace was also used as a loading screen track for Bioshock Infinite

[@devinkurbyun]

I remember dancing to this song with my Great Grandma... truly amazing and brings back many memories

[@PHlophe]

Devn, this is hilarious and kinda cute but it ain't that believable that a great granny would have enough physical strenght to dance to this with someone who can do cartwheels ..

[@thehaseeb9136]

One of the greatest and underrated composer even been on earth, I still sometimes observe how complex pieces crested by this genius, I still feel on him that he couldn't get the appreciation he deserved ❤️❤️

[@CorbCorbin]

Still dig listening to Jelly Roll Morton from time to time.

[@itsRemco]

It's really nice that Scott Joplin now gets the attention that he deserved in the first place

[@TheCharlesAtoz]

Good stories! Suggestion: Story of SUBPOP.

[@blackcowboymusic]

That would have to be like a 2 or 3 part vid

[@TheCharlesAtoz]

They were such a big part of the Seattle scene, even now their book of artists is huge.

[@alexredfield1943]

That would be great!

[@hamburgerdan101]

THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE ON THIS NOOOOOWW.

[@user-cr2bt3zp1f]

I’m glad someone is finally recognizing the brilliance of Scott Joplin.

[@abqnurse5760]

One of my best childhood memories is my grandfather playing The Entertainer on the piano. Thank you for a great and informative video!

[@renialatrice]

Some one needs to take his opera and make it. Not a cheesy version but a version beyond what he would've ever thought of.

[@KamilaDalmate]

A playhouse in Toronto is performing it in April I think.

[@Autostade67]

Wow - this video cannot but bring any compassionate, thinking viewer to tears. Though I am acquainted with most of what you presented, I have never seen it encapsulated so succinctly, with such intelligence, sensitivity, dignity and reverence. I will be showing your excellent work to a young music class tomorrow. May they learn to admire Joplin as much as you and I.

[@alisterfolson]

I immediately thought of the movie "The Sting"

[@jayburgin3912]

What a FANTASTIC episode. One of your best

[@vsharres]

Great video. Scott Joplin is awesome, never knew that he had such an interesting story.

[@KellyK387]

My granny and I listened to him on vinyl, now that I live in her house when I put it on it reminds me of her. So good, he’s a fellow Texan. There was an old lady piano player that could play like Joann castle at my sons principals husbands funeral at our church, I asked her if she could play it and she said of course I love doing the ragtime (she said “didn’t you notice I made that hymn sound “Raggy”?) I said yes! Loved it

[@someguy2135]

When "The Sting" was released, Joplin's "The Entertainer" got a lot of airplay on Pop radio stations at that time.

[@laurisaarinen1126]

Wow, i wonder if this guy ever in his wildest dreams would have thought that over 100 years later, his piece of music would be recognized by majority of people around the world. I did from the first few seconds. I just love learning about music history, thanks for making awesome videos like this!

[@ryanstoerger5432]

I would love to see a video of how Billy Joel drew inspiration from a variety of artists in many of his hits. He covered several genres and put them in terms of his style which would be incredibly hard to do.

[@Cheryllovesbooks]

Ryan Stoerger In the mid nineties Billy Joel did a series of talks/mini concerts at college campuses where he goes into detail about what inspired him. There must be a video of it somewhere.

[@richardgoffin-lecar1951]

Yes! Great idea!

[@TJ-mm8fx]

Thank you so much for this. Scott Joplin is one of the greatest and one of the most under appreciated American composers of all time. Videos like this make a real difference. God bless, you are doing great work.

[@GameOnRadio1]

You didn’t mention the movie about his life starring Billy D Williams that Motown made

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Yes! The piano-off is such a brilliant scene!

[@HasufelyArod]

Literally, Lando Calrisssian was Scott Joplin before. By the way, I made a video about it. And yes, it's a silly amateursish one

[@michaela.webermann4141]

This is easily my favorite video of yours. What a journey -- thanks so much for bringing this to us!

[@RJKT]

Would you ever consider doing a video on how blues came to be. As all genre's of rock seem to stem from blues.

[@SatrilRose]

Honestly I think Rock , Jazz , Hip hop , etc stem from Blues. In some way shape or form , Blues gave birth to these genres.

[@user-cr2bt3zp1f]

Satril X Rock comes primarily from R&B and Jump Blues. Jazz is an evolution of aspects of ragtime, European, traditional, and blues music. Hip-hop has much of its roots in funk, which can be traced to soul, which can be traced back to rhythm&blues and gospel. Blues is in everything.

[@SatrilRose]

@@user-cr2bt3zp1f Blues came before R&B. Yes Blues is in everything Especially Rock. All the Early rock legends will tell you that they listened to Howling Wolf , Muddy waters , Chuck berry etc. Hip hop isn't just rooted in funk. It's R&B/ Soul, Funk , Regeaa . Early hip hop legends grew up on Marvin Gaye , Sam Cooke , Prince , Bob Marley , The Isley brother . James Brown was really the first rapper.

[@user-cr2bt3zp1f]

Satril X Of course. Hip-hop comes from a lot of genres, but funk is one of the biggest influences. Gotta love James Brown

[@SatrilRose]

@@user-cr2bt3zp1f Exactly He was definitely a pioneer for Rappers.

[@TheHutch619]

Yo man. Love the channel, can’t get enough of your videos. Seriously so interesting and crazily well researched and produced. This might be a pipe dream, but as a Canadian I’d love to see a polyphonics video on the Tragically Hip and how they transcended music to become icons to many Canadians, myself included. The Hip are so culturally significant that I feel they warrant one of your videos and nothing would make me happier lol Keep up the good work

[@Polyphonic]

You mean like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ3GpoGrpbl8aZo

[@DanielGomez-gw4kt]

I guess Ragtime music, is the type of music that is instrumental but with really catching up Beats, that form a tune or song. And I guess when Ragtime music caught up with different people in America, that play that type of instrumental music on a horn session, jazz, the piano, hoedown classical anything like that during the turn of the century. All of it later came together as pop music. I also do believe that Opera also played an important role as a another form to develop pop music in the early days

[@jordanntare3208]

Stop guessing you're right bro

[@CorbCorbin]

What about good ole Knuckles O’Toole!

[@charles_heres]

That reminds me of those singles with Enrico Caruso singing O Sole Mio and other well known opera performers of the time, they were far more popular back then

[@hellchic1394]

Love the way you dig into music history, provide back stories and weave it all together with analysis of the music itself for people like me who love music but have no clue about the technical aspect. You sir are a genius!

[@knightwing5169]

3:53 People are oftentimes unwilling to talk about minstrel shows, even though they are indeed an important part of American history and music history. Thank you Polyphonic.

[@screenpuller]

This tune always reminds me of "The Sting" with Robert Redford, My dad showed me that movie when I was just a little kid & I still think it's one of the best films ever made. "The Entertainer" fit perfectly.

[@MrT9822]

Right after I watched this I threw on my copy of Joshua Rifkin Piano Rags by Scott Joplin Vol. I H-71248 Stereo. I've had it for a while and every now and then slap it on. Especially while making some cocktails and buzzing like a bee! 😂

[@buhlawkaydaboy6129]

This might be some of your best production work! Stellar job my friend, and thank you for countless hours of entertainment You my boy Poly!

[@zaameer6104]

I just wanna say thank you to you for blessing us with such great content. ❤️

[@CosmicDuskWolf]

I learned a lot about songs I have heard a lot, the man who wrote these songs, his inspirations and about his life as a musician. Scott Joplin was quite a brilliant person.

[@willgillies5670]

I know it was uncomfortable to talk about Minstrels but this is important stuff, we should never forget and never repeat the mistakes of our ancestors so we have to keep this stuff in mind, so it needs talked about.

[@wertherquartett]

How ridiculously sanctimonious and judgmental.

[@L3Gutierrez]

The Entertainer was my final for my piano class in my freshman year of high school. Thanks for the flashback of memories

[@largelatte7320]

Do a video about Robert Johnson. The king of Blues

[@chopraarav5659]

he has

[@shanewright2772]

Johnson was largely a peripheral and unknown figure both during his lifetime and for almost 25 years after his death. A great musician, but hardly a claimant to the crown of the King of the Blues in the way, say, BB King was,

[@OsKarMike1306]

@@shanewright2772 As amazing as Johnson was, I can't help but agree. Django Reinhardt would've been a better contender and he mostly played gypsy jazz.

[@severed3735]

The king of delta blues*

[@largelatte7320]

@@shanewright2772 I mean yeah fair enough, but i was saying in the sense of Robert Johnson being like the best of his time and him forwarding a new genre of music more than other blues musicians at the time. In the sense of people calling Elvis Presley the king of rock and roll.

[@deemond5289]

Great video! And, probably the smoothest segway to a sponser I have seen to date. Nice work

[@martinvetter2746]

0:31 in my country this is the supermarket jingle, I just cannot associate it with anything else Viva chile y el jumbo cabros

[@tablon8539]

pobrecito, lávate el cerebro wn

[@andrewryan2180]

I remember my primary school Head held a Ragtime themed week when I was 10. The songs have stuck with me ever since, but thank you so much for contextualising them so well. A really well written and produced short documentary.

[@brettanderson9633]

Be proud of this one man, you had me choked up at the end.

[@JowSithm]

The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag were my first favorite songs when I was a young kid. I used to make my grandparents play it on their record player every time I went over there as a kid. It still holds a special place in my heart five decades later!

[@HellsCowBoy666]

If you go to St. Louis Missouri you can visit the Scott Joplin museum on Delmar.

[@chagadelica]

I found this video fascinating and moving. It’s among the very best you’ve done, and certainly my favorite. Really, excellent! Thanks and congratulations!

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

Scott Joplin has some Texas roots, so when you're in East Texas, be sure to pay a visit to the beautiful mural they put up at 3rd and Main in Texarkana to honor him.

[@MadCow999]

This video is superb in every way. My friends and I used to play Scott Joplin rags (vinyl records back then) in the 70's.

[@curious5691]

I certainly have loved each one of your video. My decorated musical lightswitch cover is the notes from the entertainer. Several times buyers have hummed it out.

[@harpnel9371]

i love scott joplin, shame he never saw a dime from his music

[@jackorion7157]

What? Maple Leaf Rag kept hin financially stable for most of his life

[@harpnel9371]

Jack Orion oh that’s cringe

[@BryceRogers_]

Harp Nel What are you talking about? Yes, Joplin was never rich from Ragtime music. But you’re just plain wrong to say he never made money from his music

[@Angel-tw3ko]

Scott Joplin was the first composer to demand and receive royalties from maple leaf rag

[@djbluejazz7349]

@@jackorion7157 What you don't get about the bract that he died poor genius?

[@friarsteve7683]

That was a great segment. Well done

[@kri8beats778]

Gotta flip his ragtime record that I've had waiting for a while. This video is important education for all of us!

[@BodySnatcherIV]

Thanks for doing this with so much sensitivity

[@adolfosoriano2726]

Before watching the video i gave it a thumps up, Scott Joplin i don't know shit about music but when i pick up the album at a thrift store for a dollar i knew it was going to be good, when i played the album and the entertainer staterd playing i understood my dog cory of why he howl at the ice cream truck. Even animals appreciate good music.

[@AxelHoeschen]

Every clip more brilliant than the one before. Thanks for your great work!

[@gordondell8691]

I've always said that if I were ever to go for a doctorate in music, my thesis would be on how Scott Joplin was the single biggest influence on American popular music. None of the forms that we know today would exist without the popularization of ragtime.

[@generalxod3266]

Thank you Polyphonic for another great segment. I truly appreciate your hard work.

[@Subparanon]

@Polyphonic I would lose my mind if you did one of these on Solomon Linda, the guy who basically invented Mbube music, which went on to give us hits like "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and inspire artists like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Paul Simon. At one time, his song was the highest played song on the planet, and he recorded it for peanuts.

[@PieVive]

This is such an amazing video and I am so glad there are people spreading love, and information on Scott Joplin. He is one of the best composers in American History that not that many people know about. But I wouldn't say he was the best Composer in just America, I think he is one of the best songwriters ever in History next to Claude, and other Classical Songwriters. He was the one to shed light on new age of music with his pieces. But what makes me sad is what time he was born in. A time full of hate, and sadness towards the African American community in America. Just because of his skin color, he was ruined out of his love and job in creating music, and soon died right after. I just hope that someday he can get more love than he already has been getting, and I am currently working on learning a few of his pieces not just because they are amazing, just so I can bring light to this amazing, and talented Composer.

[@Lkjhgf5482]

His waltz "Bethena" plays at the end of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

[@swillm3ister]

I love this channel so freaking much.. Ever since the one about the Who's Life house project. You're the best. Thank you so much for your work bro.

[@edvaira6891]

Ragtime was just happy sounding music...we’ve always responded to things that were uplifting

[@aviratthakor8974]

Hell yeah! I might be the biggest Joplin fan on Earth (I have a Joplin statue and t-shirt and have memorized nearly everything he ever wrote), so I freaked out when this came out. Thank you Polyphonic for recognizing his genius.

[@dublion7]

What an amazing movie his life would make... somebody phone Denzel Washington plz....

[@jacksonwma]

Motown produced a biopic starring Billy Dee Williams in1977. Not sure if it`s available on disc. It`s simply called Scott Joplin.

[@shooob]

@@jacksonwma FWIW, it's now an Amazon Prime to stream.

[@rfdarsie]

The first American pop star was actually Louis Moreau Gottschalk, a 19th century virtuoso pianist, student of Chopin, and a concert sensation. He was quite a hit with the ladies and was known to have had to leave towns quickly to avoid enraged fathers or husbands. He performed one of his patriotic works at Lincoln's funeral. Such an interesting life story and an amazing composer. This being said, Joplin was much more transformative. His music laid the groundwork for jazz, which conquered popular culture for the first half of the 20th century.

[@theaddictofgaming9174]

Finally taking about one of the most influential composers in America.

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

Wonderful video. Thank you for highlighting all types of music.

[@relrel310]

If anyone wants to read an amazing book that looks at Joplin, the rise of Ragtime, and its cultural effects within America, I highly recommend the book, OLIO, by Tyehimba Jess. It won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 2016 and it's an amazing an powerful piece of writing exploring Ragtime and Joplin.

[@trawlins396]

It's a book of poems?

[@relrel310]

@@trawlins396 it is!!! But they're more like prose poems that have a story in them

[@Yautjakanaka]

Rifkin’s Joplin recordings were incredibly important to me in high school. So cool to see a video on Joplin’s genius and influence.

[@thomaswalz3515]

As a kid, I played piano... but as I became young adult, I watched guitar players get laid... and dad sold the piano. Music has always been part of my life. After decades of guitar... I'm beginning to get the urge to tickle the ivories again. BTW, I do play Maple Leaf Rag on guitar... not easy... which is why I play it... Thanks for this. As a Boomer, I remember that Joshua Rifkin album in collections. Listened to it many times.

[@satinepetit2512]

Scott Joplin was the first pianist that really made me want to learn piano (: heard his ragtime on my Christmas carousel 10 years later, im still learning from him

[@Pynklemmusic]

whose receiving his royalties if he even has ownership of it