“Glad to have a chance to finally sit down with you Mr. Joplin.”
“Pleasures all mine young man.”
“Anyway, I wanted to ask you, What made you get into the arts? I mean, What inspired you?”
“Well, when I was young my family was very poor, but this nice old german man Taught me free-o-charge. I was always interested in music as a child.”
“I see. Was he the only one who aided you?”
“No sir, my friends always took an interest and my teachers encouraged me too. Everyone really helped me get here, in their own way.
“What was the world of ragtime before you?”
“Son I don’t mean to toot my own piano, but there was no ragtime before me.”
“Very well said. What from your surroundings affected you?”
“I was poor, but that didn’t matter, they taught me for free. I was black, but hey, Get over it. If people don’t buy my music because of difference in skin, then that’s their ignorance.”
“What were your biggest succeses?”
“My biggest successes, as well as my favorites, were always maple leaf rag and the entertainer. When I was sad and needed a pick-me-up, I just sat down and played. I hope that’s how most people feel when they listen.”
“What opportunities were given to you throughout your career?”
“One thing I am not, and that is an opportunist. Everything I did was as soon as I could with as much soul as I could, and opportunity or not I worked.”
“Ahh. So what choices in your life made you so sucdesful?”
“I was never that successful, most of my fame came Post-mortem. I just played the soul that the good lord gave me and hoped.”
“I see. What were your biggest obsticles?”
“I didn’t really have many obstacles, but I was walking in high water. I never quite had much momentum from my first ragtime works.”
“Thank you. What were your greatest limitations.”
“Ain’t that the same? Well I guess since I was black many people limited me like that, but I never saw it that way.”
“ Lets wrap up.What personal stories (anecdotes) best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?”
“Wikipedia my good man, Wikipedia.”
I wouldn't be tooting my piano if I were you about there being no ragtime before you, because i was/am known to have started the ragtime but son i have to say that is a opinion question so you can toot your piano all you want... son.
ReplyDeleteBut anyways its pretty fancy we both are known for starting the Ragtime, you as a piano player, and me as a dancer. My wife and I would love to dance to some of your peices with you playing them of course. It was a pleasure reading your interveiw, and its always great for artist like ourselfs to have interveiws like these to show others who we are and how we became the way we are , bye Scott and thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth is a Wikipedia?
ReplyDeleteNice to read a very, interesting, interview about yourself young man, but now,now what in the world did you say about how you became successful in the arts, this place called a wikepedia? Ive never heard of this before. Back to what i was saying. Ragtime! You as a piano player must EMBRACE your SOUL in what you do as a fantastic musician! Maybe I can toot my horn while you create a masterpiece on the piano. The outcome of two clashing musicians could be fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWell Vernon, sure you invented the DANCE of ragtime, but i made the music. If it weren't for me you'd be jumping around looking like a fool! It's nice that you danced to my music, and I'd love for us to get together too.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of "Wikipedia" before. What is "Wikipedia" first of all? Since "Wikipedia" was the answer to a question about anecdotes, what is it about? How does "Wikipedia" apply to your life and success?
ReplyDeleteWell my my. You've had quite the successful and wonderful career. I really would like to know what "Wikipedia" is. It seems it was a very important part of your career.
ReplyDeletehaha! fighting over ragtime i see but I'd like to point out that ragtime is just a part of Jazz and i am considered by many to be the father of Jazz.
ReplyDeletealso what is wikipidia i know im old but what is this?
Glad to see you around here king oliver, and your an amazing musician. You have to realise although, that my ragtime is new and straight from my soul. If ragtime has come from jazz, then jazz must have come from Jungle beats, So let's just give all the credit to them! To settle the confusion on what a "Wikipedia" is it's like a new form of encyclopedia reference book.
ReplyDeleteYou seem very interesting and talented. I would love to have performed with you!
ReplyDeleteBattle of Ragtime is what we should call this interview. You have a very interesting interview. You claimed that you created Ragtime. But Scott Joplin said you just created the dances to it, and I it wasn’t for him you would be dancing around looking like a fool. I would like to know who really created it. I am a little old now but what in the world is Wikipedia? It sounds like without it you would have no career, nor history.
ReplyDelete