In 1910s San Francisco, concert violinist Roger Grant, also known as Alexander, abandons classical music to join a ragtime band with pianist Charlie Dwyer and singer Stella Kirby. Alexander's switch dismays his high society family. As two decades pass and popular music transitions from ragtime to jazz, the ragtime band trio grows both stronger and weaker through love, breakups and war -- all along the rising and falling tide of their musical success.
—Jwelch5742