1897 in music

Events

• The Cakewalk matures into Ragtime music
• John Philip Sousa's band makes phonograph recordings of Cakewalks and early Ragtime
• early publications by Scott Joplin

Top Hits

• "At a Georgia Campmeeting" by Kerry Mills[?]
• "A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight" by Joe Hayden & Theodore Mertz (first published the previous year)
• "The Shuffling Coon" by J. R. Todd
• "Syncopated Sandy" by Wayburn & Whiting)
• "Ye Boston Tea Party" by Arthur Pryor[?]
• "Roustabout Rag" by Paul Sarebresole

Births

• May 14 - Sidney Bechet
• July 11 - Blind Lemon Jefferson
• September 8 - Jimmie Rodgers

Deaths

• April 3 - Johannes Brahms