Ragtime enjoyed its peak popularity between 1895 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm and began as dance music in the red-light districts in St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published as popular sheet music for piano. Scott Joplin became famous through publishing a string of ragtime hits. Ragtime fell out of favor as jazz claimed the public's imagination after 1917.

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