This is the definitive history of ragtime music and its composers. Both authors are widely celebrated composers, performers, collectors, historians and critics of ragtime music. With great enthusiasm and expertise, they trace the growth and diversification of ragtime from its earliest beginnings in the late nineteenth century through its heyday in the Folk, Classic, Popular, Novelty and Stride Ragtime periods to its current revival.

Forty-eight major composers are discussed, including Scott Joplin, Zez Confrey, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller and many other greats. In addition, 800 important rags are profiled, most of them bearing the carefree titles that were part of the tradition, titles like Canned Corn Rag, Bantam Step, Too Much Raspberry, Ragging the Scale, and Red Onion Rag. Each profile includes date of publication, original publisher, a discography and a commentary on the unique character and appeal of each rag.

Over a hundred photographs illuminate this lively chronicle, along with reproductions of original sheet music and many other items of interest from the authors' personal archives.

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