With bad blood over an earlier piece of music between Joplin and Berlin, and Scott already a very sick man, this was a situation ripe for confrontation. Joplin to take his musical drama 'If' to Irving Berlin to be produced. Martin loved Scott's music and convinced Mr. He also took piano lessons from Scott Joplin. Martin has discovered discrepancies in th In the summer of 1916 Martin Niederhoffer worked for Waterson, Berlin, and Snyder, Music Publishers as a bookkeeper with an eye to his future. In the summer of 1916 Martin Niederhoffer worked for Waterson, Berlin, and Snyder, Music Publishers as a bookkeeper with an eye to his future. The King of Ragtime is the second installment in the Ragtime series. Can Nell and John exonerate the ailing musician before it is too late? And just when things couldnat get worse, Niederhofferas girlfriend, Birdie, is kidnapped. After Berlin flatly denies ever having received Joplinas play, young Niederhoffer breaks cover and engages the services of hit man Footsie Vinny, who gives Berlin a five-day deadline to come up with the manuscript. In trying to sort out the mess, she calls her father in from St. Nell Stark, daughter of Joplinas first publisher, John Stark, hides Joplin and Niederhoffer from the police. He hustles his teacher away unfortunately, the two are seen leaving the building. The next day, Niederhoffer walks into his office and finds Joplin crouched over the blood-soaked body of a young man. Heas written a musical drama, and his young piano student, Martin Niederhofferawho works as a bookkeeper at Waterson, Berlin, and Snyder Music Publishersa convinces him to try to get Irving Berlin to publish and produce the work. Before he dies, he wants to provide for his wife and secure his place in musical history. The Itas 1916, and timeas running out for Scott Joplin. Itas 1916, and timeas running out for Scott Joplin.

King of ragtime