James Sylvester Scott, born on February 12, 1885, in Neosho, Missouri, was a prominent American ragtime composer and pianist. Known as "The Little Professor," Scott was one of the "Big Three" composers of classical ragtime, alongside Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb. His parents, James Scott Sr. and Molly Thomas Scott, were former slaves. In 1901, his family moved to Carthage, Missouri, where he attended Lincoln High School and received a piano after taking music lessons.

Scott's musical career began in 1902 when he worked at Charles L. Dumars' music store, where he demonstrated music as a song plugger. His first published composition, "A Summer Breeze - March and Two Step," was printed in 1903. By 1904, he had published "Fascinator March" and "On the Pike March." In 1905, Scott traveled to St. Louis to meet his idol, Scott Joplin, who introduced him to publisher John Stillwell Stark. Stark published Scott's "Frog Legs Rag" in 1906, which became a significant success.

In 1914, Scott moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he married Nora Johnson. He worked as an organist and arranger for silent movies at the Panama Theater and continued to compose music. Despite the decline of ragtime with the rise of jazz and sound movies, Scott remained active in music, leading an eight-piece band and teaching piano.

Scott's notable compositions include "Climax Rag," "Frog Legs Rag," "Grace and Beauty," "Ophelia Rag," and "The Ragtime Oriole." He passed away on August 30, 1938, in Kansas City, Kansas, and was buried in Westlawn Cemetery. His legacy as a key figure in the ragtime genre endures, celebrated for his contributions to American music.