Early Career:
- Started composing music in his early teens, influenced by ragtime and folk traditions.
- Performed as a pianist in local saloons and honky-tonks, honing his skills.
Publication of "Maple Leaf Rag" (1899):
- Joplin's most famous and successful ragtime composition, published by John Stark & Son.
- Sold more than a million copies in its first year, making it a national hit.
Establishment as a Ragtime Composer:
- Followed the success of "Maple Leaf Rag" with other popular compositions like "The Entertainer" (1902) and "Elite Syncopations" (1903).
- Became a prominent figure in the ragtime movement and gained recognition as one of its leading composers.
Opera Compositions:
- Ambitious to elevate ragtime to a higher art form, Joplin began working on operas that included ragtime elements.
- Wrote his first opera, "A Guest of Honor" (1903), which faced challenges due to limited opportunities for African American artists at the time.
- Despite setbacks, Joplin continued composing operas, including "Treemonisha" (1911), his most critically acclaimed work.
Later Years:
- Faced personal and financial struggles in the later years of his career.
- The popularity of ragtime declined, and Joplin's health deteriorated due to syphilis.
- His contributions were largely forgotten during the early 20th century.
Revival of Interest:
- In the 1970s, a renewed interest in ragtime music emerged.
- The release of the soundtrack to the movie "The Sting" (1973), which featured Joplin's music, played a significant role in his rediscovery.
- Posthumously, Joplin's operas and compositions gained greater recognition, and he became celebrated as a pioneer and significant figure in American music history.