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Arthur Collins, born on February 7, 1864, and passed away on August 3, 1933, was a prominent baritone known as the "Ragtime King." He earned this title by recording more songs with "rag" or "ragtime" in the title than any other singer, successfully bringing upbeat ragtime music into middle-class homes with the Victrola. In the 1890s, Collins recorded the song "All Coons Look Alike To Me" by Ernest Hogan, which is significant for featuring the first known use of "rag" as a musical term in its 1896 sheet music. Many of his recordings are categorized as "coon songs" or "darky songs," which may contribute to the reluctance of scholars to credit this white singer with the popularization of ragtime.

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