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James Scott was a pivotal African American ragtime composer and pianist, renowned as one of the 'Big Three' of classic ragtime alongside Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb.Born in Neosho, Missouri, Scott displayed early musical talent. He gained prominence as a ragtime composer in the early 20th century, publishing his first rag in 1903. He worked as a music store clerk, pianist, and teacher in Carthage and Kansas City, Missouri. Despite his significant contributions, his later life was marked by hardship following the decline of ragtime's popularity and personal tragedies. He died in relative obscurity in Kansas City, Kansas.

• Scott was largely self-taught on the piano, developing his skills by ear before receiving formal lessons.
• His move to St. Louis in 1914, orchestrated by John Stark (his publisher and Joplin's), aimed to place him at the center of the ragtime scene.
• His music store in Carthage, Missouri, went bankrupt in 1922, forcing him to move permanently to Kansas City.
• He suffered the devastating loss of his wife, Nora, in 1930 and his mother in 1931, plunging him into deep grief.
• Scott died in poverty at the age of 53 from dropsy (edema), largely forgotten by the public. His grave remained unmarked until 1981.
• His music experienced a major revival during the ragtime resurgence of the 1970s.