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Henry Ragas

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Henry Ragas was an American jazz pianist, born on 2 November 1890 and died on 18 February 1919. He played piano in the Original Dixieland Jass Band, the first jazz band to make commercial recordings. That makes him the first jazz pianist to be captured on record, piano rolls aside. Because of the primitive recording equipment, his contribution is barely audible. He filled in the chords and played a bass line, and took no solos.

Music and breakthrough

Between 1910 and 1913 Ragas gained experience as a solo pianist. In 1916 he travelled to Chicago with Johnny Stein's band and left that group to form the Original Dixieland Jass Band. He played on the band's first twenty-one recordings, including Bluin' the Blues, which he composed himself. He also wrote Lazy Daddy, Dixieland Jass Band One-Step, Clarinet Marmalade Blues and Reisenweber Rag.

Influence

He played on classics such as Livery Stable Blues, often regarded as the first jazz record, and Tiger Rag, one of the most recorded jazz tunes. Darktown Strutters' Ball from 1917 entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006. Ragas died in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1919. J. Russel Robinson took his place.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Livery Stable Blues by the Original Dixieland Jass Band. Notice the animal noises from the horns and try to hear the piano underneath, which mostly plays chords and a bass line.

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists