How a 1902 piano rag became the world's most recognizable piece of hold music
In short: Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer was a ragtime hit at the turn of the century, but its path to global ubiquity involved a 1970s classical revival, an Oscar-winning film score, and an unlikely second life as the default sound of telephone switchboards and ice cream trucks across North America.
Published in 1902 by John Stark & Son, The Entertainer was originally conceived as a 'Rag Time Two Step,' a dance form that remained popular until roughly 1911. Joplin’s composition, structured as Intro–AA–BB–A–CC–Intro2–DD, is primarily set in C major, though it modulates to F major for its trio section. Contemporary critics like Monroe H. Rosenfeld praised it as a 'jingling work' capable of setting feet in motion, and its dedication to James Brown and his Mandolin Club suggests the piece was influenced by the rapid tremolos of plectrum instruments.
Despite its early success, the piece faded until the 1970s, when a Scott Joplin revival began. Joshua Rifkin’s 1970 album, Scott Joplin: Piano Rags, became Nonesuch Records' first million-selling record, proving the composer's enduring appeal. This momentum culminated in 1973 when Marvin Hamlisch adapted the work for the film The Sting. Hamlisch’s orchestration reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974, turning the rag into a national phenomenon that bridged the gap between classical and popular music.
Today, the legacy of The Entertainer is as varied as its history. While it remains a staple of ragtime, it has been reimagined with lyrics by Milton Berle for The Muppet Show and later by Oscar Brown Jr. in 2020. Its cultural footprint is vast, ranging from the Recording Industry Association of America ranking it among the 'Songs of the Century' to its persistent, if sometimes grating, presence as the default hold music for Panasonic telephone systems and the signature jingle of ice cream trucks.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Entertainer
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