James Scott - Definition

This article is about the ragtime composer; there was also James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.

James Scott (February 12, 1885 – August 30, 1938) was a noted USA composer of ragtime music. He is usually regarded as one of the three most important composers of classic ragtime, along with Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb.

James Scott was born in Neosho, Missouri. In 1901 his family moved to Carthage, Missouri. His first published composition, "A Summer Breeze: March and Two-Step" was printed in 1903. In 1906 he moved to Saint Louis, Missouri and studied with Scott Joplin.

In 1914 Scott moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he taught music, directed a theater orchestra and continued to compose music.

Scott's best known compositions include "Climax Rag", "Frog Legs Rag", "Grace and Beauty", "Ophelia Rag" and "The Ragtime Oriole".

Scott died in Kansas City and was buried there in the Westlawn Cemetery.

External links

• James Scott on Kansas City Jazz site (http://www.umkc.edu/orgs/kcjazz/jazzfolk/scotj_00.htm)
• Scott compositions on trachtman.org (http://www.trachtman.org/ragtime/ragpage.htm#scott)