About the band

Inspiration for the first concert in July 2023 of the then titled "Atlanta Musicians Band", occurred during the first months of the Covid-19 lockdown with a literal curiosity about what music had been written about 'anything' Atlanta. The joy in discovering music for that concert led to a foxtrot/two-step march written one of the composers of "Lift Every Voice and Sing", J. Rosamond Johnson, spurred desire to arrange more concerts to explore these forgotten gems of the ragtime age.

The renamed "Atlanta Ragtime Band", has since performed more than 20 concerts since founding in July 2023. Many of these have celebrated specifically; Black History Month, Women's History Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, and most meaningfully to the band, Juneteenth. 

Without the societal mixing of cultures that came with the upwelling of African traditions that comingled following Emancipation and the FREEDOM of Black cultures to express themselves, the music that we try to champion and celebrate would have never come into existence.

As much fun as it is for the players to play, the real joy is in the faces of the audience as they hear the cheerful, playful, and so often commented as 'optimistic' music of the Ragtime era as played by the Atlanta Ragtime Band.