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Scott Joplin was a highly influential American composer and pianist, often referred to as the "King of Ragtime." Here are some interesting facts about Scott Joplin:

1. Pioneering Ragtime Music: Scott Joplin is best known for his contributions to the development and popularization of ragtime music, a genre characterized by its syncopated rhythms and lively melodies. He composed numerous rags that became iconic pieces in the ragtime repertoire.

2. Birth and Early Life: Scott Joplin was born sometime between 1867 and 1868 in Texarkana, Texas. He was of African-American descent, and his exact date of birth remains uncertain due to a lack of official records from that time.

3. Classically Trained: Joplin received formal musical training as a child and later studied composition at the George R. Smith College in Sedalia, Missouri. This classical training greatly influenced his ragtime compositions.

4. "Maple Leaf Rag": In 1899, Joplin composed "Maple Leaf Rag," which is one of his most famous and enduring works. This rag became a hit and is considered a classic in ragtime music.

5. Treemonisha: Joplin's most ambitious project was the opera "Treemonisha," which he composed in 1910. It was one of the first operas written by an African American composer. Although it wasn't widely recognized during his lifetime, it later gained appreciation for its pioneering work in blending classical and ragtime elements.

6. The Entertainer: "The Entertainer" is another of Joplin's famous rags. It gained renewed popularity in the 1970s after being featured in the movie "The Sting," which won an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

7. Pulitzer Prize: In 1976, Scott Joplin posthumously received a special Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to American music, particularly for his role in the ragtime revival.

8. Joplin's Legacy: Scott Joplin's music had a lasting impact on American music, laying the foundation for the jazz and swing eras that followed. His compositions are still celebrated and performed by musicians worldwide.

9. Tragic End: Joplin struggled with mental illness and financial hardships during his later years. He died on April 1, 1917, at the age of 48 in a mental institution in New York. His death certificate listed "dementia" as the cause of death, but it's now believed that he likely had tertiary syphilis.

10. Posthumous Recognition: Despite the challenges he faced during his lifetime, Joplin's music gained widespread recognition and appreciation after his death. He is remembered as a trailblazer in American music and a pioneer of ragtime, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence musicians today.