<P> Scott Joplin ( / ˈdʒɒplɪn / ; c. 1867 / 68 or November 24 , 1868 -- April 1 , 1917 ) was an African - American composer and pianist . Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions and was dubbed the `` King of Ragtime '' . During his brief career , he wrote 44 original ragtime pieces , one ragtime ballet , and two operas . One of his first , and most popular pieces , the `` Maple Leaf Rag '' , became ragtime 's first and most influential hit , and has been recognized as the archetypal rag . </P>
<P> Scott Joplin ( / ˈdʒɒplɪn / ; c. 1867 / 68 or November 24 , 1868 -- April 1 , 1917 ) was an African - American composer and pianist . Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions and was dubbed the `` King of Ragtime '' . During his brief career , he wrote 44 original ragtime pieces , one ragtime ballet , and two operas . One of his first , and most popular pieces , the `` Maple Leaf Rag '' , became ragtime 's first and most influential hit , and has been recognized as the archetypal rag . </P>
scott joplin is best known as a composer of what kind of music
scott joplin is best known as a composer of what kind of music
ragtime
ragtime