Scott Joplin was born in 1868 into an impoverished Texan family, in fact his father was an ex-slave. Despite this inauspicious start, he was allowed to study the piano from a young age and quickly demonstrated an exceptional talent. The larger part of his compositions fuse traditional European classical form with afro-American harmonies, forging an innovative compositional style. His most famous compositions are grouped together as `Ragtime´. During his lifetime it was impossible for a coloured musician to gain recognition from the musical establishment, and he was unjustly considered a mere `tunesmith´ by his peers. Today, however, `Ragtime´ pieces appear in the programmes of established concert performers, and his compositions are belatedly receiving the appreciation they so richly deserve.