SCOTT JOPLIN (1977) | BILLY DEE WILLIAMS BLACKTREE MEDIA SATURDAY MOVIE SHOWCASE Before jazz transformed American music, there was Scott Joplin, the King of Ragtime. Billy Dee Williams stars in this 1977 biographical drama about the legendary Black composer who helped revolutionize American music with classics including Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer. Directed by Jeremy Kagan, the film follows Joplin’s journey from playing piano in saloons to becoming one of America’s most influential composers, while confronting racism, personal tragedy, and the struggle to have his music recognized as serious art. Featuring: Billy Dee Williams, Clifton Davis, Margaret Avery, Godfrey Cambridge, Eubie Blake, Mabel King, Taj Mahal and Art Carney. 🎬 Year: 1977 | Rating: PG | Runtime: 96 minutes Joplin’s influence extended far beyond ragtime, helping shape the musical traditions that followed. In 1976, he received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his contributions to American music. Discover the extraordinary story behind the music and one of Billy Dee Williams’ lesser-known performances. 🎬 Watch more classic movies and television streaming 24/7 at BlackTreeTV.com — Where Legends Live Forever. 🔔
Starring Billy Dee Williams, Clifton Davis, Margaret Avery
Dir. Jeremy Kagan