 Scott Joplin was born in Arkansas in around 1867, just outside Texarkana, and was a street performer before settling in Sedalia, Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, and finally New York City where he died in 1917.He was an American composer and pianist, who achieved fame for his ragtime compositions, and was dubbed "The King of Ragtime".During his career, Joplin wrote over 40 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas.