Roland Burrow
“1904 World’s Fair Rose Bud Ragtime Contest”
Oil on Canvas
33″ x 43″
*In St. Louis in 1904, rag music greats Scott Joplin, Tom Turpin, Louis Chauvin, Charles Warfield, and Joe Jordan put on a dueling piano competition at Douglas Hall to coincide with the World’s Fair. It was named the Rose Bud Contest because Tom Turpin owned a cafe named The Rose Bud Cafe where the musicians would work out their new music and get together to collaborate. A magnificent piece of St. Louis history.
This painting is part of a series that Roland is currently working on of historical St. Louis African American musical events that have long been forgotten. For more information please contact the gallery.
