The State Historical Society of Missouri
Famous Missouri Musicians
Arthur Marshall (1881 – 1968)
[SHS 024466]
Arthur Marshall was a ragtime musician who was a friend and writing partner of Scott Joplin. Born on a farm in Saline County, Missouri, on November 20, 1881, Marshall and his family later moved to Sedalia. When Scott Joplin moved to Sedalia, he lived with the Marshall family. Arthur Marshall learned a great deal about ragtime music from Joplin and followed him to St. Louis in the early 1900s.
Marshall co-wrote two ragtime songs with Joplin: Swipesy Cake Walk (1900) and The Lily Queen. He also produced several songs of his own: Kinklets, Ham and --, The Peach, and The Pippin. He ended his musical career around 1917, but took part in ragtime revivals later in his life. He died in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 18, 1968.
- See also: "Swipsey [sic] Cake Walk Result of a Famous Collaboration." Sedalia Democrat. November 24, 1959. p. 2, col. 5–6.
