Ragtime Art from the Early 1900s

I love the old sheet music covers from the ragtime era. These eye-catching works of art helped propel sales of popular songs to the public. Sales of sheet music for a single song had the potential to be in the hundreds of thousands of copies.

This cover for “The Neutrality March” by Mike Bernard, The Ragtime King and a major character in Temptation Rag: A Novel, is a real gem. After I bought the sheet music on ebay, I had it framed. It now hangs in the powder room of my house along with several other beautifully quirky Mike Bernard covers.

Here are a few other favorites:

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5-stars from READERS’ FAVORITE Book Reviews

What is the price of freedom? How do we leave a legacy? Can we ever forgive the unforgivable? A deeply human story of love, lies, and the power of music from the author of The Beauty Doctor, Finalist for the 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award, 2017 AZ Literary Awards, and a Medallion Honoree of the Book Readers Appreciation Group.

Seventeen-year-old May Convery, unhappy with her privileged life in turn-of-the-century New York City, dreams of becoming a poet. When she meets the talented young Mike Bernard, an aspiring concert pianist, she immediately falls in love. But after their secret liaison is discovered, neither is prepared for the far-reaching consequences that will haunt them for decades. As Mike abandons serious music to ruthlessly defend his hard-won title, Ragtime King of the World, May struggles to find her voice as an artist and a woman. It is not until years after their youthful romance, when they cross paths again, that they must finally confront the truth about themselves and each other. But is it too late?

The world of ragtime is the backdrop for a remarkable story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness. From vaudeville’s greatest stars to the geniuses of early black musical theater, an unforgettable cast of real-life characters populates this richly-fictionalized historical saga.

Available now from book stores and online retailers. Five-star rating from Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews!

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