John Stillwell Stark was the main publisher of Scott Joplin’s musical compositions. Born in Kentucky on April 11, 1841, Stark grew up in Indiana. He moved to Sedalia, Missouri, and Taylor, and their friends, Dred and Harriet's cases came to trial on June 30, 1847. Unfortunately, their cases were dismissed on a technicality. Their lawyer moved for a new trial in 1882. There he opened a small music shop and within a few years was able to purchase a local music publishing firm. He renamed the company John Stark & Son.
Stark published Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag
in 1899. This song was very popular and brought Stark a steady income that allowed him to advance his publishing business and move to St. Louis in 1901. Stark, guided by his musically talented daughter Eleanor, believed strongly that the classic ragtime
Ragtime is a musical genre that was popular from the 1890s until around 1918. It gets its name from the rhythm of the music. The style is played off-the-beat or in "ragged" time and usually is performed on the piano.
of Scott Joplin was important and should be published and promoted. Stark also published the works of other ragtime composers who had worked with or knew Joplin. These composers include James Lamb, Arthur Marshall
Scott Hayden was a performer and composer of ragtime music. He was born in Sedalia, Missouri, on March 31, 1882, to Marion and Julia Hayden. Hayden is best known for co-writing four rags with Scott Joplin: Sunflower Slow Drag, Something Doing, Felicity Rag, and Kismet Rag. He died in Chicago of tuberculosis on September 16, 1915.
, James Scott, and others. Stark spent several years in New York City’s Tin Pan Alley, but eventually returned to St. Louis, where he died on October 21, 1927. He is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.