Conversation so far:
What about Scott Joplin's legacy stands out the most?
Scott Joplin and his fellow ragtime composers rejuvenated American popular music, fostering an appreciation for African-American music among European-Americans by creating exhilarating and liberating dance tunes.
What is Scott Joplin's legacy?
Scott Joplin set the standard for ragtime compositions and played a key role in the development of ragtime music. He helped pave the way for young black artists.

Question: What were his early influences?
Self-contained rewrite: What were Scott Joplin's influences?