THE ENTERTAINER - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"The Entertainer" was composed by Scott Joplin and published in 1902 during the height of the ragtime era. Although it did not receive a major commercial recording at the time, the first known recording was made by the Blue Boys in 1928 in Chicago, featuring mandolin and guitar rather than piano.

The piece experienced a major revival in 1973 when Marvin Hamlisch used Joplin’s composition in the film "The Sting," leading to numerous modern piano recordings. Built from several contrasting strains, the work showcases classic ragtime syncopation and sectional form, making it one of the most recognizable pieces in American popular music history.