The 12th Street Rag was composed in 1914 by Euday L. Bowman, a Ft. Worth, Texas native who was earning his living in Kansas City at that time. Bowman also composed the 11th Street Rag and the Petticoat Lane Rag, also named for streets in Kansas City. Bowman sold the rights to the 12th Street Rag to the Jenkins Music company for $100.