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Ragtime today is commonly associated with only the works of a few composers -- Scott Joplin, Joseph Lamb and James Scott to name a few. However, just like the popular music of today, it was filled with the works of many wonderful composers, each writing in various styles tempered by their own musical personalities. Because of the variety of ragtime styles, the genre gave rise to most American popular music which followed -- blues, jazz, country -- even rock and rap. Each of these essential recordings has been compiled especially with the diversities of this original American music in mind.

Gems of Texas Ragtime Compact Disc	A Century of Ragtime Double CD Set		Long Lost Blues Compact Disc
After years of researching Texas ragtime, Richard Zimmerman has finally compiled and recorded 22 rags of exceptional musical and historical value. Most are rare works which have never been recorded. Why a recording devoted exclusively to Texas ragtime? Because of its geographical isolation from major sheet music markets, Texas relied heavily upon local composers to supply its popular music. Ragtime was published both by the state's major publishers as well as by numerous small firms. Unfiltered by schooled Eastern arrangers, these publications recorded the true spirit of ragtime and the way in which it was really played there by real people. These bluesy rags and raggy blues confirm that some of the earliest examples of blues and "boogie-woogie" were part of Texas ragtime. For the first time ever all twelve ragtime compositions by the legendary Euday Bowman are recorded, including his unpublished Rosary Blues and his original unpublished version of 11th Street Rag. They prove that Bowman wrote much more notable ragtime than 12th Street Rag. Richard Zimmerman performs these toe-tappers in his own exhuberent style which captures all of their original excitement and charm. Texas ragtime has a unique sound which is bound to delight both the ragtime expert as well as a first-time rag listener. You might even have heard audiences applaud these pieces when Richard Zimmerman has performed them in concert. Now you can have him perform your own private concert of the best of Texas ragtime.	Celebrating the centennial of the first published rag, Vanguard, the prestigious recording company, has issued one of the most important and beautiful ragtime products of all time. Here in one handsome package are thirty-eight ragtime classics of many styles composed between 1897 and 1993 and played by twenty-one of today's most famous ragtime pianists and instrumentalists. They include some of the finest ragtime performances ever recorded and a stellar assortment of great rags. Sound quality is clear, crisp and clean. The first CD contains piano solos of folk, classic, eastern, novelty, Tin Pan Alley and modern ragtime performed by Eubie Blake, Trebor Tichenor, Dick Hyman, Max Morath, Richard Zimmerman, Joshua Riffkin, Mimi Blais, John Arpin and Catherine Wilson, Morton Gunnar Larsen, William Bolcom and David Thomas Roberts. The second CD contains orchestral cakewalks, two-steps, one-steps, fox-trots--and even a ragtime waltz performed by some of America's foremost ragtime orchestras and bands. Most are played from rare period arrangements. Twelve selections are by Scott Joplin, James Scott and Joseph Lamb. Other outstanding composers include Tom Turpin, Eubie Blake, Harry P. Guy, Percy Wenrich, James Reese Europe, George Botsford, Fred Stone, Zez Confrey and Euday Bowman. Modern composers include Max Morath, William Bolcom, David Thomas Roberts and Stephen Kent Goodman. Complementing the recordings is a lavishly illustrated 20-page booklet containing detailed notes about every selection and artist. This is a set which you will play over and over! It also makes a perfect gift to introduce a friend to the world of ragtime.		Some of the most beautiful and haunting ragtime compositions are the "blue note" melodies published in the 'teens long before the Blues craze of the Twenties. Most have been unknown to ragtime musicians because of their extreme rarity. During the past five years, Richard Zimmerman has been digging up the rare original sheet music for many of these old blues and has finally assembled 21 of the best. The result is the first recorded collection ever made of pre-Twentites ragtime blues. They include intoxicating melodies by ragtime composers Henry Lodge, Abe Olman, Theron Bennett and Henri Klickmann, folk blues from Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas, plust stomping blues which pre-date rock and roll by more than 30 years. Some resemble Classic rags. Others display a wistful, rural charm. All are melodic and ragged. Many of these are destined to become some of your favorites!
Compact Disc #BC-0004 - $17.95	Two Compact Discs #VC-0167 - $28.95		Compact Disc #PC-0131 - $17.95
Playlist That Texas Rag Eleventh St. Rag (published) Eleventh St. Rag (unpub.) Kansas City Blues Rats!! Sixth St. Rag Ragged Terry Tipperary Blues Nothing Doin' Water Lily's Dream That Gosh-Darned Two Step Rag Colorado Blues Shamrock Rag Alamo Blues Petticoat Lane Graveyard Blues Twelfth St. Rag Ft. Worth Blues Niagara Rag Tenth St. Rag Rosary Blues The Rattler	Playlist - CD 1 - Piano Solos 1. Stars and Stripes Forever Eubie Blake 2. Harlem Rag Trebor Tichenor 3. Maple Leaf Rag Dick Hyman 4. Rags to Burn Richard Zimmerman 5. Charleston Rag Eubie Blake 6. The Easy Winners Max Morath 7. The Entertainer Richard Zimmerman 8. The Ragtime Dance Joshua Rifkin 9. Pickles and Peppers Max Morath 10. April Fool Rag Mimi Blais 11. Scott Joplin's New Rag Joshua Rifkin 12. The Chevy Chase Rag Arpin & Wilson 13. 12th Street Rag Richard Zimmerman 14. Bohemia Arpin & Wilson 15. Kitten on the Keys Dick Hyman 16. Musical Massacre Mimi Blais 17. Toad Stool Rag Morton Gunnar Larsen 18. One for Amelia Max Morath 19. Graceful Ghost William Bolcum 20. Roberto Clemente David Thomas Roberts	Playlist - CD 2 - Orchestras 1. Mississippi Rag St. Louis Ragtimers 2. Echoes From the Snowball Club Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra 3. Eli Green's Cake Walk Dawn of the Century Orchestra 4. St. Louis Rag Paragon Ragtime Orchestra 5. Belle of the Phillipines Ophelia Ragtime Orchestra 6. Frog Legs Rag New England Ragtime Ensemble 7. Dixie Blossoms Dawn of the Century Orchestra 8. Black and White Rag Paragon Ragtime Orchestra 9. Grace and Beauty New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra 10. Mephisto Rag New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra 11. Harmony Rag Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra 12. American Beauty Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra 13. Castle House Rag New England Ragtime Ensemble 14. Reindeer Rag New England Ragtime Ensemble 15. Cleopatra Rag New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra 16. The Rag Baby U of Wis. Eau Claire Symph. Band 17. Gold Rush Rag U of Wis. Eau Claire Symph. Band	Playlist The Jogo Blues War Bride Blues Dallas Blues Cheerful Blues The Houston Blues Beale Street Shimmie The Baltimore Blues Ole Miss Rag Money Rag West Texas Blues Some Jazz Blues The Carolina Blues Some Blues (For You All) Sweet Baby Blues Lonesome Raod Oh! Those Blues The Memphis Blues Tishomingo Blues The Aviation Blues Livery Stable Blues The Long Lost Blues