Artie Matthews

Artie Matthews (November 15, 1888 – October 25, 1958) was an American songwriter, pianist, and ragtime composer.

Matthews was fascinated and immersed himself in ragtime and started playing and writing numbers in the style.

In 1908 he moved to the ragtime center of St. Louis, Missouri, which would be one of his bases, frequently alternating with Chicago, Illinois.

In early 1913 music publisher John Stark heard Matthews and offered him 50 dollars each for any original rags he submitted for publication.

Among Matthews students was Frank Foster, who would become the principal arranger for the Count Basie orchestra.