Ragtime as a musical form was born from marches, the cakewalk,
and jigs and usually was performed on the piano or banjo.
Ragtime's African American Roots gave it a shaky start due to
rampant prejudice; however, Scott Joplin brought the form to
maturity as Classical Ragtime. Joplin's influence spread ragtime
across color barriers and brought recognition and appreciation
to African American music. "Joplin's ragtime expressed the
intensity and energy of a modern urban America" (Scott and
Rutkoff, 2001). Joplin Died in 1917 at the age of 48, cutting
short a remarkable musical career. Some of his works have been
lost, however those that have survived influenced Jazz, Blues,
and many other music forms. In 1970, Joplin was inducted in the
Songwriters Hall of Fame by the National Academy of Popular
Music and in 1976 Joplin was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize
for his contribution to American music. America's interest in
Joplin and appreciation for his music was reawakened when his
rag-time piece, "The Entertainer"