Ragtime Composer's Life, Music Celebrated
May 16, 2007
For the third consecutive year, the life and music of ragtime composer Scott Joplin were celebrated at St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst this past Saturday, May 12.

Photos Vinny DuPre Terry Waldo, at the piano, Orange Kellin, clarinetist, and banjoist Howard Alden performed the music of ragtime composer Scott Joplin at the third annual celebration of Joplin's life and work at St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst.

Orange Kellin, clarinetist and bandleader who played with Louis Armstrong and is one of the creators of "One Mo' Time", pianist Terry Waldo, recently heard on the soundtrack of the PBS documentary "The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson" and a protégé of the legendary Eubie Blake, and banjoist Howard Alden all performed ragtime favorites. The Presbyterian Church of St. Albans professional singers and dancers presented excerpts from Joplin's only opera, "Treemonisha" and Dr. Edward A. Berlin, an author and Joplin biographer, offered a PowerPoint presentation detailing Joplin's life, times and music.

Relatives of Joplin band members regaled the audience at the cemetery with anecdotal histories of their ancestors' minstrel pasts and lives. A barbecue and refreshments were provided as well.

Singers and dancers from the Presbyterian Church of St. Albans, who presented excerpts from Joplin's only opera, "Treemonisha", posed with St. Michael's Cemetery Director of Sales and Marketing Edward Horn (far l.).

Although Joplin's ragtime music was the rage in the early years of the twentieth century, he died penniless and in relative obscurity in April 1917 and was interred in St. Michael's in a community plot occupied by two unrelated people. His wife refused to comply with the request that his "Maple Leaf Rag" be performed at his graveside. His work, however, inspired generations of entertainers. The movie "The Sting", starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, focused the attention of a new generation on him and brought about resurgence in his popularity. In August 1974, Joplin finally received the tribute his lifetime of work had earned decades before. The Native New Yorkers Historical Association laid a wreath, offered a prayer, played "Maple Leaf Rag" and placed a marker on Joplin's resting place.

Edward Horn, St. Michael's Cemetery director of sales and marketing (l.) joined with Tony Barsamian, Gazette publisher, who served as master of ceremonies at the Scott Joplin Celebration for the third consecutive year, to present the event.

As has been the case, the celebration was free and open to the public. The audience in attendance at this year's Scott Joplin Celebration was said by St. Michael's Cemetery Director of Sales and Marketing Edward Horn to be the largest to date.