George Botsford

Full biography George Botsford

George Botsford (February 24 , 1874 – February 1, 1949) was a prolific American composer of ragtime and other forms of music. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and began his career in music as a pianist in vaudeville shows. He eventually moved to New York City, where he joined a group of Tin Pan Alley composers and began writing ragtime almost exclusively.

Botsford was a highly successful composer during the first decade of the 20th century , and his ragtime compositions were extremely popular. One of his most famous pieces was "Black and White Rag," which continues to be a staple of ragtime repertoire today. He wrote many other rags for piano, as well as a miniature opera and various songs.

Botsford's music is notable for its cheerful, lighthearted melodies and its use of syncopation, which became a hallmark of ragtime. He was known for his ability to write catchy tunes that appealed to a broad audience, and he was one of the most successful composers of his time.

Botsford was also a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), which was founded in 1914. He was a frequent contributor to ASCAP's annual songbooks and was well-respected among his peers in the music industry.

Overall, George Botsford was an influential and successful composer during the ragtime era, and his music continues to be enjoyed and performed today.