In 1907, the "Searchlight Rag" by Scott Joplin was published. In the early 1890s, Joplin's friends, the brothers Tom and Charles Turpin, had done prospecting in the Searchlight, Nevada area.

The brothers' frequent stories of this experience, recounted to the patrons of their bar, inspired Joplin to the title of these Rag.

Scott Joplin's date of birth is unknown, but is believed to have been born in Texas between June 1867 and January 1868. His parents were freed slaves who left the farm...