Further Antedating of "Ragtime"

[Fred Shapiro]

A few months ago I posted an antedating of the word "ragtime," dated Aug.
16, 1896.  Here is slightly earlier evidence, found in John Edward Hasse,
_Ragtime: Its History, Composers and Music_ (1985), p. 7:

"On August 3, [1896] Ernest Hogan's song _All Coons Look Alike to Me_,
with an optional chorus labeled 'Negro "Rag" Accompaniment,' was
copyrighted.  Two days later a copyright was filed for Witmark's edition
of Ben Harney's song _You've Been a Good Old Wagon But You've Done Broke
Down_.  The cover claimed that Harney was the 'Original Introducer to the
Stage of the Now Popular "Rag Time" in Ethiopian Song.'"

Fred Shapiro


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