"Ragtime Bob" Darch

Robert Darch has probably traveled more miles to perform ragtime than any other revivalist. Born in Detroit, "Ragtime Bob" Darch has been spreading the effervescence of ragtime since the mid-1950s to audiences throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. One of the first professional ragtime entertainers since the music's heyday, Darch has specialized in the saloon circuit, where he feels ragtime songs and instrumentals are most at home.

Darch helped revive the careers of many ragtime era performers and organized and launced ragtime festivals throughout the United States and Canada, beginning in the 1950s. Always cultivating new talent, he also influenced a large number of younger musicians to become involved with the music, including: Trebor Tichenor, Eddie Tobin, John Arpin and Steve Spracklen.

Eubie Blake came out of retirement because of Bob Darch. So did Joseph Lamb, who played for the first time in public a year before his death in 1960 at Darch's urging.

Wherever Darch appeared he urged his faithful followers to search out long forgotten sheet music and piano rolls. He kept harping on the need to find, preserve and further promote classic ragtime music.

Now in his mid-70s, Bob has been affectionately referred to as both "The Pied Piper" and the "George Burns" of Ragtime. He is often found late at night in some tavern with a beat up piano "holding court" with a loyal group of new converts. He was, and still is, a preacher, professor and poet, all wrapped up in the cloak of his unique and captivating music. When folks talk about the true legends of ragtime, there is little doubt that Darch is at the top of the list.