Multi-talented Ramona S. Baker is the daughter of Clint Baker (“Preserving the Fire of Early Jazz,” TST, June 2020) and sister of Riley Baker (“Swingin’ in the Golden State,” TST, September 2020). She is a pianist, historian, collector, artist, and a contributing writer to The Syncopated Times.
Hal Smith: Many of your articles for The Syncopated Times, your blog, and your frequent posts on Facebook concern relatively obscure figures in ragtime and popular music from 1890 through 1920. What sparked your interest in these particular composers and performers?
Ramona Baker: Well, they seemed to be rather understudied in the field of studying early recordings. I had become frustrated that no research had been done on important background figures like Eddie King and Fred Hylands. It became my mission to find where these folks fit into the history that is often neglected.
Besides Fred Hager, Justin Ring and the lesser-known people you have written about, who are some of your favorite composers?
My favorite composer would have to be Arthur Pryor. Every new piece I hear by him is so distinct and spontaneous. His composition style never becomes tiresome. It was said that many members of Sousa’s band became frustrated with the eccentricity and difficu
