Introduction
The Palace Theatre
February 4, 2007
Brent Watkins, Guest Artist
Ragtime musicologist Brent Watkins presents the history and development of ragtime in a delightful afternoon of keyboard antics!
This production is sponsored by
River City Graphics Specialties
and
Coon Creek Cable
The Parlor. America’s “entertainment center” from 1880 to 1920. Before TV, before radio – when a piano and sheet music opened the world to new sounds and new composers.
Who were the heroes of Parlor Town? Men of color who defined musical culture for white America. Men who challenged racist stereotypes by creating some of the most sophisticated and eclectic music the world has ever heard.. White composers who valued and were influenced by these men.
Pianist Brent Watkins traces the musical development of Ragtime, featuring the music of Scott Joplin as well as lesser known American classics from ragtime’s twilight years, plus East Coast Stride standards by James P. Johnson and Eubie Blake.
