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Vincent Johnson Sierra Madre, California |
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In 2007, Vincent began to compose ragtime music as a hobby and has turned out over a dozen of compositions to date. While his pieces are composed in various ragtime era styles, including foxtrots, cakewalks, classic rags, and stride piano, most of his pieces are composed in the novelty style popular during the 1920s. These pieces are influenced by his favorite composers: Arthur Schutt, Zez Confrey, Roy Bargy, Charley Straight, Max Kortlander, Les Copeland, Billy Mayerl and Joseph Lamb. |
Vincent Johnson, a teenage ragtime composer, pianist, researcher, and
enthusiast, was first attracted to ragtime music at age 12, after hearing his
friends play Scott Joplin rags. He began learning "The Entertainer"
and "Maple Leaf Rag" by watching and listening to the pieces being
played by others. He began attending Rose Leaf Ragtime Club gatherings in order
to learn more about this musical genre and listen to live performers play rags.
Piano lessons soon followed, and soon he was learning pieces of varying ragtime
styles, from classic ragtime to novelty piano.