TEXARKANA - Ragland Piano Company is a store that not only sells pianos, but appreciates the history, legacy and impact of former musicians in downtown.
Former Texarkana citizen, Scott Joplin, dubbed "King of Ragtime," wrote over 40 original ragtime pieces, a ballet, and two operas in his lifetime. Ragtime was the first music style originating from African American communities to have an impact on mainstream popular culture. It quickly established itself as a distinctly American form of popular music, peaking between 1895-1919, and was an early jazz influencer. Tune in the weekend of November 23-24 as host, Shane McAuliffe, gets a lesson on the modern piano's past and present in a shop in Joplin's hometown.
Howard Gustafson III is piano technician and owner of the Ragland Piano Company in downtown Texarkana. His musical journey as a pianist began at a young age, after picking up a book of Joplin's collected works and learning to play them in attempts to convince his parents to get him lessons. Little did he know the journey he had just embarked on that would eventually lead him from Tennessee to Texarkana, the town where the musical legend, Scott Joplin, began his own journey.
The Texas Bucket List, telling the tales of the Lone Star State one Texan's story at a time. The award-winning TV series shares the joy, wonder, beauty and excitement of Texas. Each week, host Shane McAuliffe sets out to add more people, places, food and music to a list that every Texan should experience.
Shane has been recognized with numerous television broadcast excellence awards including a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, three Lone Star Emmy Awards, the Barbara Jordan Media Award, several Telly Awards, and multiple Texas Association of Press Broadcasters awards. He's a native of Round Rock, Texas and attended The University of Houston. The Texas Bucket List is produced by McAuliffe Productions, LP located in College Station, Texas.
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