Dave Jasen: A Remembrance

In the area of ragtime, Dave Jasen—who died Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at age 84—was an institution. He wrote the definitive books on the subject (some in collaboration with Trebor Tichenor and Gene Jones), compiling a massive list of published rags, invaluable information on the lives and output of dozens of ragtime composers, and a critical lens through which to understand the form. He released albums as well as reprintings of worthy and forgotten works that he wanted to bring to light again. Through his combination of critical, historical, and editorial work, Dave defined ragtime as we understand it and had a profound impact on anyone who cares about such things. But his incredible output transcended ragtime alone. While I would not exactly call Dave a polymath, he was a true and ultimate expert in a number of seemingly unrelated subjects. He was P.G. Wodehouse’s official biographer (and the dedicatee of one of the later Jeeves novels). He was a consummate researcher on American popular music and author of The Tin Pan Alley Encyclopedia and Spreadin’ Rhythm Around: Black Popular Songwriters 1880-1930, among many titles. He was a news director for CBS and early adopter of video in news (he told me once that his efforts to use pre-recorded footage for live broadcasts is why we have footage of Jack Ruby assassinating Lee Harvey Oswald). He was a Professor of Communications a
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Sam Carner is a working musical theater lyricist/librettist and educator based in New York City.

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