Rick Patrick rick@greenepublishing.com
Memorial Day weekend of 2022 will be one that John Beggs, 15, will probably remember for many years to come. The young Madison County native won the Junior Division of the Old Time Piano Playing World Championships, held in Oxford, Miss.
Beggs has been playing “old time piano” since he was first introduced to the style when he was nine-years-old. According to the Old Time Piano Playing World Championship and Festival, this style of music can be described as: “The style of piano playing found primarily in public venues of performance between 1890 and 1939, particularly in bars and piano competitions, consisting of popular songs and instrumentals of that era, including ragtime, traditional jazz, novelty, stride and boogie, but excluding advanced chord progressions more commonly found by 1940 or later in symphonic, modern jazz and be-bop music forms.”
In 2019, Beggs entered the competition and placed fifth. Undeterred, he continued to work daily to perfect his skills, even through the COVID pandemic. This year, Beggs entered the competition with the George Gershwin tune “Maybe” and the Fats Waller song, “Smashing Thirds.” Beggs received a trophy, a gold medallion and $500 cash for his efforts. A video of Beggs' winning performance can be seen on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQvA__tyKzw.
During the pandemic, Beggs began to offer samples of his music online. He has also produced some educational videos posted on his website. According to Beggs' father, Chip, Beggs incorporates a bit of musical history with interesting stories about the artists and composers of the music he is playing. Beggs will even offer to provide relaxing music for your family for dinner or after-dinner enjoyment. He says he would love the opportunity to perform in a local restaurant. You can also hear samples of his music and order CDs and download individual songs at www.johnbeggs.us.