Lamb, Joseph F(rancis)

remarkable American ragtime pianist and composer; b. Montclair, N.J., Dec. 6, 1887;d. N.Y., Sept. 3, 1960. Although he had no formal musical training and spent most of his life in the textile import business, Lamb was one of the most important composers of piano rags during the heyday of RAGTIME. He also wrote a number of songs for TIN PAN ALLEY. After almost 30 years, he was rediscovered in 1949; he began composing rags again and also appeared as a ragtime pianist.

Lamb wrote rags in the classical style of SCOTT JOPLIN. He was thrilled when he had a chance to meet Joplin after the composer had moved to N.Y. Joplin praised Lamb highly, saying his works were "real colored rags." To Lamb, that was the highest compliment.

Lamb's most notable rags were Sensation (1908), Ethiopia Rag (1909), Excelsior Rag (1909), Champagne Rag (1910), American Beauty Rag (1913), Cleopatra Rag (1915), Contentment Rag (1915), The Ragtime Nightingale (1915), Reindeer (1915), Patricia Rag (1916), Top Liner Rag (1916), and Bohemia Rag (1919).