While not directly related to jazz, pianist Roy Bargy recorded six solos on piano (mostly in novelty ragtime style). These, along with 11 piano rolls, were reissued as Folkways LPs. Bargy had taken piano lessons for 12 years starting at age five. Bargy had initially planned to be a classical pianist but he ended up working in popular music. He was a pianist and organist at the local movie houses. He also organized his school orchestra and began cutting piano rolls in 1919. He was then hired to be the pianist, arranger, and musical director of the Benson Orchestra of Chicago in 1921. Bargy began his career with Isham Jones in the mid-1920s. He then became famous as a pianist with Paul Whiteman (1928-40), whose “legitimate”, jazz-classical technique allowed him to play both classical and credible jazz solos (such “Rhapsody In Blue”) during that time. Bargy spent his final years on the radio with Lanny Ross in the early 40s. He was also Jimmy Durante’s musical direction from 1943 to 1963. Bargy’s most well-known composition is “Pianoflage.” Allmusic
