Tom Turpin

Thomas Million John Turpin (November 18, 1871 – August 13, 1922) was an American composer of ragtime music.

[1] Including the "Harlem Rag", Turpin published a total of seven compositions.

Turpin was a large man, six feet (1.83 m) tall and 300 pounds (136 kg); his piano had to be raised on blocks so that he could play it standing up, otherwise his stomach would get in the way.

His influence on local music earned him the title "Father of St. Louis Ragtime.

[5] He is a minor character in Philip Jose farmers riverworld book series 1897 1899 1900 1903 1904 1909 1914 1917 [6]