Scott Joplin - 7

He's the most famous composer you've never heard of -- Scott Joplin was born near the end of 1867 (no one is sure of the actual date) in Northern Texas. His parents were emancipated (free) slaves, and gave Scott some of his earliest music lessons.

Scott taught himself to play the piano while his mother cleaned the houses of wealthy people who owned pianos (the Joplins did not have a piano at home). Later in his life he began to write music, and became known as "The King Of Ragtime" because of the style of music he created. An opera, music for ballet, and more than 44 ragtime dances for the piano are just a part of the music Joplin wrote in his life. Here are two of his most well known compositions:

The Entertainer

Maple Leaf Rag