Artie Matthews facts for kids
Artie Matthews (born November 15, 1888 – died October 25, 1958) was an American songwriter, pianist, and ragtime composer. He is known for his "Pastime Rags" and for helping to create early blues music.
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Early Life and Musical Journey
Artie Matthews was born in Braidwood, Illinois. When he was young, his family moved to Springfield, Illinois. He started learning to play the piano, focusing on popular songs and light classical music. Around 1905, he heard a pianist named Banty Morgan play ragtime music. Artie was very interested in ragtime and began to learn and write his own songs in that style.
Moving to Music Centers
In 1908, Artie Matthews moved to St. Louis, Missouri, which was a major center for ragtime music. He often traveled between St. Louis and Chicago, Illinois. He worked as a pianist, helped arrange music for others, and wrote songs for local theater shows.
Working with a Publisher
In early 1913, a music publisher named John Stillwell Stark heard Artie Matthews play. Stark offered him $50 for each original ragtime song he wrote. Artie also worked for Stark, helping to arrange other musicians' songs.
Later Life and Teaching
In 1916, Artie Matthews moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he first worked as an organist in a church. In 1921, Artie and his wife, Anna Howard, started their own music school called the Cosmopolitan School of Music. This school was created for African Americans. Artie taught at the school until he passed away. One of his students, Frank Foster, later became a main arranger for the famous Count Basie orchestra.
Artie Matthews' Musical Legacy
Many people consider Artie Matthews to be one of the best and most skilled ragtime composers. They often compare him to other great ragtime artists like Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb, and James Scott.
Famous Compositions
His most famous ragtime songs are the "Pastime Rags," which are numbered 1 to 5. His song Baby Seals Blues from 1912 was one of the first blues songs ever published. His song Weary Blues is still a popular tune played by Dixieland and New Orleans jazz bands today.
See also
- List of ragtime composers
