"Alexander's Ragtime Band" is the name of a song by Irving Berlin. It was his first major hit, in 1911. There is some evidence, although inconclusive, that Berlin borrowed the melody from a draft of "A Real Slow Drag" by Scott Joplin that had been submitted to a publisher.
Famous quotes containing the words alexander, ragtime and/or band:
“I shall not cease to bless because
I lay about me with the taws
That night and morning I may thrash
Greek Alexander from my flesh,
Augustus Caesar, and after these
That great rogue Alcibiades.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, Boom,”
A roaring, epic, ragtime tune
From the mouth of the Congo
To the Mountains of the Moon.”
—Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931)
“The band waked me with a serenade. How they improve! A fine band and what a life in a regiment! Their music is better than food and clothing to give spirit to the men.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)