Several Black pianists have graced the music scene with their incredible talent throughout history. Yet, most of the world remains oblivious to their accolades and musical prowess.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to four black pianists you must know about if you’re interested in music and black history.
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#1 Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin is often referred to as the King of Ragtime. This is something about Joplin that many people, especially musicians, and pianists, are familiar with. However, many don’t know that Joplin was never the initiator of ragtime music. That means he wasn’t the first pianist to compose a ragtime piece. He wasn’t even the first black person to do so, and yet, his musical prowess got him that title, making him immortal in the ragtime music scene.
Of course, ragtime music had always existed in America ever since the black race was there. Yet, people, mostly white people, failed to notice it. They were ignorant of its existence until the 1890s. Then, sometime later, Joplin arrived and took the scene, as well as the entire music industry, by storm.
Joplin’s fame as the King of Ragtime came through his numerous hits. He went on to compose over a hundred ragtime music pieces. He’s also known for writing perhaps the ragtime’s first and most influential hit, “The Maple Leaf Rag.”
Through Joplin, the ragtime genre stormed into the European classical music scene back then. Even the great composure Debussy went on to use ragtime music in three of his piano pieces. Many others made the most of this genre in one form or another, and it was all made possible because a black man named Scott Joplin helped popularize this genre to a mainstream audience.
#2 Thomas Wiggins
Tom Wiggins was a piano prodigy and arguably one of the best-known piano artists of the 19th century. Thomas Wiggins, or Tom Wiggins, was better known as ‘Blind Tom.’ Yes, one of the best pianists of the 19th century could not see, but perhaps that was the least of his problems. Tom’s biggest and undeniably worst problem was that he was a black man born into slavery.
Despite being medically blind, Tom still honed his musical talents and reached a position amongst the piano greats. He wasn’t someone who was the first to achieve something specific when it came to pianos. What he was, however, was a young genius. His love for music and his dedication to playing the piano made him a role model for many young pianists at the time and music lovers born into slavery like him.
According to the Road To The Civil War website, Tom grew up in Georgia and was owned as an enslaved person by someone named James Bethune. He soon grew fond of playing the piano and was no doubt excellent at it because his owner saw his commercial potential, and by the age of ten, Blind Tom was performing at the White House for the then President of the United States, James Buchanan.
Over the next 50 years, Tom achieved international fame. He began composing his music and performing worldwide, inspiring many black pianists and musicians.
#3 Florence Price
Florence Price was a pianist, composer, organist, and music teacher. She is recognized as the first black woman who had a musical piece played by a musical orchestra. The piece in question was her First Symphony. It went on to win an award in the orchestral category at the Wanamaker Music Composition Contest.
After she died in 1953, Price’s musical fame was rather lost. However, in 2009, a large volume of her work was found in her Chicago house, which rejuvenated many people’s interest in her work.
#4 Hazel Scott
Hazel Scott was one of the most important and influential black pianists ever. She was known for her ability to play the piano brilliantly well, her work in the film industry, and her contribution to the civil rights movement.
Scott was a child prodigy and even got a scholarship at eight to go to Juilliard. She was known for playing with piano compositions and breaking them down to create something new. Her creativity and ability to reimagine existing compositions with a touch of her own helped her achieve great fame in the music scene.
Apart from these four, many other black pianists have contributed to the piano music scene. However, knowing about these four icons is a good place to start.