Arthur Owen Marshall (November 20, 1881 – August 18, 1968) was an American composer and performer of
ragtime
Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...
music.
Early life and education
Marshall was born on a farm in
Saline County, Missouri
Saline County is located along the Missouri River in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,370. Its county seat is Marshall. The county was established November 25, 1820, and named for the region's salt spr ...
, the son of Emily Marshall, a
washerwoman
A washerwoman or laundress is a woman who takes in laundry. Both terms are now old-fashioned; equivalent work nowadays is done by a laundry worker in large commercial premises, or a laundrette (laundromat) attendant.
Description
As evidence ...
, and Edward Marshall, who had no discernible career, on November 20, 1881. A few years later his family moved to
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located approximately south of the Missouri River and, as the county seat of Pettis County, Missouri, United States, it is the principal city of the Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had ...
because black children were allowed to attend school nine months a year there as opposed to the three months allowed blacks elsewhere, and the Sedalia townspeople were reportedly more accepting of African Americans. The Marshalls lived at 135 West Henry Street. Marshall attended elementary school in Sedalia. He was only fifteen years old when
Scott Joplin first arrived in Sedalia. Joplin took up residence with the Marshall family, and before long both Marshall and
Scott Hayden, a Lincoln High School classmate of Marshall, became Joplin's protégés. Marshall had already taken some private lessons in classical music years before, and was versed with piano technique and a gift for syncopation. Joplin also helped get Marshall a job at the Maple Leaf Club during its single year of existence in 1899. In the club on October 1, 1899, Marshall got into a fight with a young man named Ernst Edwards over Edwards's girlfriend. They took their fight outside, Marshall pummeled Edwards with his cane, Edwards drew a gun, and Marshall ran away.
Career
At Joplin's suggestion, Marshall then continued to study music at
George R. Smith College, learning
music theory. Marshall graduated from the Teacher's Institute with a teaching license, however, it seems that he chose to pursue a career as a performer. He earned a reputation as an outstanding local musician. While still in college, he traveled with McCabe's Minstrels for nearly two years, playing during intermissions. Marshall also helped cover his school expenses by playing ragtime in public venues and for dances and special occasions. He also played where work was available; in the brothels, where substantial tips regularly exceeded his standard wage by a great deal.
[Arthur Marshall biography]
/ref>[Rose M. Nolen (2010)]
''African Americans in Mid-Missouri: From Pioneers to Ragtimers''
pp. 43-44
During 1901 and 1902, Marshall lived in the Joplin home in St. Louis, along with Scott Hayden, Hayden's wife Nora, Joplin's wife Belle, and Joplin's brother Will. During this time, Nora and Will died.[
Marshall continued to play in various tours and contests, both in St. Louis and at places such as Chicago. In 1903, despite flagrant racial discrimination, Marshall worked at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World's Fair), playing piano at the Spanish Cafe where he earned $12 per week plus tips until he was replaced by a band. At some point after mid-1905, he moved with his wife to Chicago. They lived in an apartment at 2900 South State Street above Beau Baum's Saloon, across the street from the Pekin Theater. Marshall played at several local spots; the Wintergarden at 3047 South State Street, Lewis's Saloon and the Eureka Saloon.
Marshall collaborated with Scott Joplin on two ragtime compositions, " Swipesy Cake Walk" (copyrighted July 21, 1900) and "The Lily Queen" (copyrighted November 7, 1907), and produced several solo efforts, including "Kinklets", "Ham and !", and "The Peach". It appears that for these three solo compositions Marshall received $50 and 3-cent royalties from his publisher ]John Stillwell Stark
John Stillwell Stark (April 11, 1841October 21, 1927) was an American publisher of ragtime music, best known for publishing and promoting the music of Scott Joplin.
Early life and education
Stark was the eleventh of 12 children born to Adin S ...
, a deal which Marshall felt was fair. However, he struggled to come to terms with Stark in 1906, possibly for his rag "The Pippin", and finally settled on a non-royalty offer of $10 and 200 copies of the music.
Later life and death
Marshall retired from the music business in 1917, but later in life he participated in ragtime revivals. Arthur Marshall died in Kansas City, Missouri.
Personal life
Marshall apparently married four times during his life.[
*Latisha (or Letitia) Howell, in St. Louis circa 1904
*Maude McMannes, in St. Louis
*Julia Jackson, in Chicago, with whom he had three children, two girls (one being Mildred Steward)][Edward A. Berlin (1996)]
''King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era''
p. 58 and one boy. Julia died in childbirth in 1916.
*Odell Dillard (Childs), in Kansas City on November 25, 1919
List of compositions
See also
* List of ragtime composers
A list of ragtime composers, including a famous or characteristic composition.
Pre-1940
*Felix Arndt (1889–1918), "Nola" (1916)
*May Aufderheide (1888–1972), "Dusty Rag" (1908)
* Roy Bargy (1894–1974), "Pianoflage" (1922)
* Harry Belding (1 ...
References
Further reading
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marshall, Arthur
1881 births
1968 deaths
African-American classical composers
American classical composers
African-American male classical composers
American male classical composers
People from Saline County, Missouri
People from Sedalia, Missouri
Ragtime composers
Scott Joplin
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
20th-century American male musicians