50th Anniversary Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival

First, a correction. In my January, 2024 report of the West Coast Ragtime Festival I attributed “Belle Adair,” played there by Richard Dowling, to him. The actual composer is Vincent Matthew Johnson, as I learned at the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival in late May. I apologize to Vincent for not crediting him for this piece that was commissioned by Glenn Robison for his wife Rita. Now, for the Joplin festival. If you don’t care to read all 1,227 words, the bottom line is that this was a stellar event, the best of the five I’ve attended. Perhaps all the stops were pulled out to celebrate its 50th anniversary from May 29 through June 1 in Sedalia, MO, where its namesake published his most famous work, the “Maple Leaf Rag.” In fact, the publication site sits alongside the festival’s main music venue, the Stark tent in the first block of East 5th Street, which is closed for the occasion. The weather this year was quite good—no heat or high humidity, and the only rain fell late Friday afternoon and evening. Wind was a factor, however; those outdoor performers who used scores had to use clothespins or clear shields to keep them in place. No fewer than 51 performers were on the bill. Not all were pianists; five full bands appeared in addition to several solo instrumentalists. The Chicag