James Scott was born in Neosho, Missouri. In 1901 his family moved to Carthage, Missouri. His first published composition, "A Summer Breeze: March and Two-Step" was printed in 1903. In 1906 he moved to Saint Louis, Missouri and studied with Scott Joplin.
In 1914 Scott moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he taught music, directed a theater orchestra and continued to compose music.
Scott's best known compositions include "Climax Rag", "Frog Legs Rag", "Grace and Beauty", "Ophelia Rag" and "The Ragtime Oriole".
Scott died in Kansas City and was buried there in the Westlawn Cemetery.
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