Although there is no accurate documentation of the origin of ragtime, there are many theories. One school of thought believes that ragtime evolved from minstrel shows songs, blacks' banjo music and the dance music of the cakewalk as well as structured European music. A final theory states that the syncopation of ragtime initially appeared in the works of the classical composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869).
A style of music associated with saloons and bordellos, ragtime was initially denounced by the Establishment. In 1901, the American Federation of Musicians released a statement recommending its members refrain from performing ragtime. "The musicians know what is good, and if the people don't, we will have to teach them," the statement read. The popularity of the music prevailed, however, and the top musicians of the day, including John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, and Claude Debussy made use of the rhythms and themes of ragtime when composing.
Scott Joplin, considered "King of Ragtime" music, was born in Texas in 1868. Working for several years as a pianist playing in saloons and brothels throughout the Midwest, Joplin settled in St. Louis, where he studied and contributed to the development of ragtime. His collection of compositions eventually totaled more than 60, including "The Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer." In 1911, Joplin relocated to New York where he composed "Treemonisha," the first grand opera composed by an African American. At the time, however, his effort was unsuccessful. Joplin died on April 1, 1917. Although his music was popular, Joplin did not receive recognition as a serious composer until nearly 60 years after his death. In 1973, his music was featured in the motion picture "The Sting," which won an Academy Award for Best Film Score. In 1976, Treemonisha won the Pulitzer Prize. In 1983, the United States Post Office issued a Scott Joplin Commemorative Postage Stamp.
By the 1920s, a new generation of musician began to gain popularity with a new style of music called jazz. Heavily influenced by the syncopation of ragtime, the hallmark of jazz is the ability of the musician to improvise. The strict rhythmic limitations of ragtime did not lend itself to this new style of playing. As a result, ragtime fell out of fashion.
The inclusion of Scott Joplin's music in the motion picture "The Sting" in 1973 sparked a renewed public interest in ragtime. Subsequently, from the score, "The Entertainer" became a top 3 Billboard hit 72 years after it was originally published.