I can’t remember who posted this last time but I loved reading all of them. Close your eyes, pick up the nearest book (don’t scan for the most interesting title). Open at random and write down the fifth sentence on that page.
Mine: From The Miraculaous Journey of Edward Tulane page 88, fifth sentence:
“Who having known him before, would have thought he could be so happy now, crusted over with garbage, wearing a dress, held in the slobbery mouth of a dog and being chased by a mad man?”
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Kristy Dempsey 
“Your mom will be mad if you miss speech.” p. 148 Rules by Cynthia Lord.
I gotta get a copy of that book! I keep hearing so many good things.
“And then I hear their voices.” Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, SHILOH.
Hmm, haven’t read that one either. On the list.
“Who was this slender, good-looking, twenty-five-year-old youth of medium height, who might have been a Negro, at least to judge by his authentically racial playing, singing, and dancing, and in who in those early days teamed with Negro entertainers like Tom Mack and Strap Hill?”
From: They All Played Ragtime by Rudi Blesh and Harriet Janis (p.210) The person described is Ben Harney.
The Father of Ragtime had red hair and light skin? That’s a hoot!
Sounds like a cool book.
The father of ragtime was Scott Joplin. As best I know, he was black. I have no idea who this Ben Harney fellow is. I got the book at a used bookstore here several years ago. Apparently, a copy in good condition can bring upwards of $100!!! It’s definitely a portrait of some interesting characters.
I only googled him and this came up:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harney2/Ben_R.htm
Maybe HE just thought he was the Father of Ragtime.
Looks like they were probably contemporaries. Scott Joplin bio. Given the nature of race relations in the late 1800s, it isn’t too surprising that a white guy might have gotten the credit over a black man.