Kawai America is Celebrating Black History Month by remembering pianists Scott Joplin, James P. Johnson, and Thomas “FATS” Waller.
Born in 1868, Scott Joplin became known as ‘The King of Ragtime’, composing many pieces of the genre, including the ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ and “The Entertainer” which enjoyed renewed fame in the 1973 film “The Sting”. Joplin was also a music teacher and influenced many future writers of ragtime music. A prolific composer, Joplin wrote over 100 rags, a ballet, and two operas. Joplin’s death in 1917 marked the end of the ragtime era however the influence of ragtime helped introduce stride, jazz, and eventually big band swing music.
James P. Johnson was heavily influenced by the music of Scott Joplin and is considered, along with Jelly Roll Morton, a pioneer in the evolution of stride piano. Johnson got his first job as a pianist in 1912, and from 1917 to 1927 cut many player piano rolls that are still available today. His recordings in the early 1920s are among the first jazz piano records ever produced. Johnson influenced the playing styles of many who followed in his footsteps such as Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, and many others.
Thomas “Fats” Waller was another very influential pianist who helped the evolution of stride piano into modern jazz. He started playing piano at the age of six, and later became the prize pupil of James P Johnson. By the age of 18 Waller was a recording artist. He copyrighted over 400 songs, including well-known songs ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ and “Ain’t Misbehavin’”.
All three of these history-making pianists are in the songwriter’s hall of fame, and Scott Joplin and James P Johnson have had commemorative stamps issued in their honor by the US postal service.