Glenn Jenks

Glenn Jenks (February 9, 1947 – January 21, 2016) was an American ragtime pianist, composer and music historian. He attended the New England Conservatory before going on to receive a degree in music from Earlham College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Jenks toured with singer-songwriter Jud Strunk between 1975 and 1978. He also performed with such acts as Manhattan Transfer, Dick Hyman, Gordon Bok, Doc Watson and Andy Williams. He founded the annual Rose Day celebration at the Merryspring Nature Center.

“As a performer, Jenks was known for his energetic playing, focusing mostly on traditional ragtime idioms. As a composer, he wrote wonderfully sensitive rags, sticking close to the traditional ragtime form, but blending in sophisticated contemporary harmonies. He wrote over 30 piano rags, a string quartet, a ragtime piano concerto and many non-ragtime compositions as well.” — Corte Swearingen His String Quartet in Ragtime has been recorded and performed by several string quartets including the Laurentian Quartet, Vancadium Quartet and the Halcyon Quartet. The Revue has presented awards to various ragtime performers including Sue Keller, Edward A. Berlin and Max Morath. It also sponsors the "Glenn Jenks Future in Music Prize" in association with the Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School in Rockport, Maine. In May 2024, American pianist Corte Swearingen released the album The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano by Glenn Jenks - Vol. 1. The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri posthumously awarded Jenks their 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Discography

Music publications Jenks, Glenn (1993). A Garden of Ragtime, Squanlake Music. 68 pages. Jenks, Glenn (2020). The Complete Ragtime Works For Piano by Glenn Jenks. 265 pages.