Jay Roberts  (1889-1932)
Last updated: 02.09.24
According to the Internet source given below, Jay [James Martin] Roberts was an American virtuoso pianist and composer of rags born in Oakland, California. His best known and most widely admired composition is The Entertainer's Rag (not to be confused with Scott Joplin's The Entertainer (1902)) which was expressly written in 1910 to be performed in cutting contests. Considered to be amongst the best pianists of his day he performed widely in America. A figure of doubtful reputation, he was arrested on drug charges in 1916 and subsequently lead a vagabond existence eventually committing suicide in Panama.

Websites:
url15.gif Jay Roberts Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards  
  Title Co-Author(s) Sequencer
       
audiomidi15.gif Entertainer's Rag (1910), The J. Cowles
audiomidi15.gif Jay Roberts' Rag (1911) James Pitt-Payne
audiomidi15.gif Joy Rag (1911) James Pitt-Payne
  Title (Release Year) Performers Instruments
       
audiodbemp315.gif Entertainer's Rag (1912), The Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. S+D/A+D/T+/D/T/B/GB(B)
audiodbemp315.gif Jay Roberts' Rag (1911) Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. D/A/T/T/B/GB(B)
audiodbemp315.gif Joy Rag (1911) Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. S/D/A/T/T/T/B/GB(B)
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
Jazz Music CDs:
cd15.gif Peter Bocage Peter Bocage with the Creole Serenaders CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif
Ragtime Music CDs:
cd15.gif Claude Bolling Original Ragtime CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif
cd15.gif Claude Bolling Original Ragtime/Original Boogie Woogie/Original Piano Blues CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Lincoln Mayorga On Tour CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif
cd15.gif Chrysanthemum Ragtime Band Preserves, Vol. 1 flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif
cd15.gif Richard Zimmerman Ragtime Favorites - Richard Zimmerman flag15us.gif
cd15.gif Richard Dowling World's Greatest Piano Rags CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Rod Miller Rod Miller Ragtime flag15us.gif flag15de.gif
cd15.gif Bill Edwards Rapid Fire Ragtime
Item Title Available €     £     $     Other
             
DBE549 The Entertainer's Rag (1910)
S+D/A+D/T+D/T/B/GB(B), approx. 3¾ mins.
1-2 days
other.gif
DBE942 Jay Roberts' Rag (1911)
D/A/T/T/B/GB(B), approx. 3¼ mins.
1-2 days
other.gif
DBE550 Joy Rag (1911) - Two Step
S/D/A/T/T/B/GB(B), approx. 3½ mins.
1-2 days
other.gif
     Title Instruments Remarks
       
sm15.gif Entertainer's Rag (1910), The S+D/A+D/T+/D/T/B/GB(B) dbe15.gifpdf15.gifwvicon.gif
sm15.gif Jay Roberts' Rag (1911) D/A/T/T/B/GB(B) dbe15.gifpdf15.gifPub.
sm15.gif Joy Rag (1911) S/D/A/T/T/T/B/GB(B) dbe15.gifpdf15.gifPub.
     Title Attribution Instruments Source Remarks
           
pdf15.gif Entertainer's Rag (1910), The J. Roberts (music) Piano IMSLP wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif Entertainer's Rag (1912), The J. Roberts (music) Piano, Voice Indiana Pub.
pdf15.gif Jay Roberts' Rag (1911) J. Roberts (music) Piano IMSLP wvicon.gif
pdf15.gif
pdf15.gif
Joy Rag (1911) J. Roberts (music)
Piano IMSLP
Indiana
Pub.
pdf15.gif Song of the Mission Chimes (1912) J. Roberts (w&m) Piano, Voice Greer Pub.
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 6 works by Jay Roberts (1889-1932). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: ER pdf15.gif (w&m)
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
Entertainer's Rag, The 1910 Midi Ragtime Recorder Ensemble (perf.)
Lloyd & Roberts (perf.)
 wvicon.gif audiomidi15.gif audiodbemp315.gif
Jay Roberts' Rag 1911 Midi Ragtime Recorder Ensemble (perf.)  wvicon.gif audiomidi15.gifaudiomidi15.gif audiodbemp315.gif
Joy Rag 1911 Midi Ragtime Recorder Ensemble (perf.)  Pub. audiomidi15.gif audiodbemp315.gif
Song of the Mission Chimes (w&m) 1912  Pub.
My Own ? Roger Lewis (words)
Oceana Roll ? Roger Lewis (words)