May 25
BOJANGLES DAY
Sammy Davis, Jr. and Shirley Temple’s tap-dancing coach, Luther ‘Bill’ Robinson, was born in 1878 on this day in Richmond, Virginia. By 1935, he was dancing up a storm with the curly-haired child-star in such movies as The Little Colonel and The Littlest Rebel. These two, along with Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Just Around the Corner in 1938, catapulted Mr. Robinson to fame ... international fame.
Robinson spent most of his childhood dancing in vaudeville. In 1928 he debuted on Broadway in Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds of 1928 and danced in Ain’t Misbehavin’ in 1929. 1932 was a year of firsts for the tap-dancing Robinson. First, his tap dancing was recorded on Doin’ the New Low Down, with Don Redman, the first time anyone’s dancing was recorded. Then he starred in the first all-black talkie film, Harlems Heaven.
Bill Robinson, more recognized by his nickname, Mr. Bojangles, than by his birth name, and known to many as the Mayor of Harlem, was personified in music. First Duke Ellington recorded Bojangles, a musical portrait of the man, in 1940. Then The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded Mr. Bojangles, a top-ten hit record in 1971.
Fame, however, didn’t bring him fortune. Robinson died penniless in 1949.
We can still hear his tapping and can see his fast-moving feet. Mr. Bojangles, dance ...
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
No portion of these files may be reproduced without the express, written permission of 440 International Inc.
