Who is "Bojangles"?

Bill "Bojangles” Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia on May 25, 1878. Born into poverty, Robinson quickly joined the vaudeville circuit as a dancer. He transitioned his fame and skill from vaudeville to Broadway shows and Hollywood films with Shirley Temple. He died May 25, 1949 at the age of 71.

Bojangles Trivia

The world's preeminent tap dancer of his day, he is remembered for his appearances as trouper with the moppet Shirley Temple in four of her 1930s films.

He took his brother's name (William); his real name was Luther.

During World War I, Robinson was the drum major of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the so-called "Harlem Hellfighters."

Appeared in 4 movies with Shirley Temple: The Little Colonel (1935), The Littlest Rebel (1935), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938) , and Just Around the Corner (1938).

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Robinson once paid to have a traffic light installed at the corner of Adams and West Leigh Streets, so that the local children could cross the street safely on their way to school. In appreciation, the City of Richmond presented him with an engraved key to the City. Today, a statue of Robinson stands at the corner of Adams and West Leigh Streets.

At one point in his career he made $6,500 a week in vaudeville billed as the "World's Greatest Tap Dancer" and headlined New York's Palace Theater, which was the top vaudeville house at the time.

Founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America (NAGA).

One of the first blacks to act on Broadway, he also appeared in the first all-black motion picture called Harlem Is Heaven (1932) in which he played a mayor.

Grandson of a slave.

Fred Astaire paid homage to him in the movie Swing Time (1936) by dancing one of his routines in a song called "Bojangles of Harlem" in black-face.

The 1932 all-black movie titled Harlem Is Heaven (1932) was supposedly based on Robinson's life.

Often credited white dancer James Barton as an influence in his dancing style.

A one-time honorary mayor of Harlem and mascot of the New York Giants baseball team.

His manager from 1908 until his death was Marty Forkins who eventually had him working in nightclubs for up to $3500 per week.

His father was a machine-shop worker and mother a choir singer/director. Both died while he was an infant.

Married three times. Second wife, Fanny Clay, was his business manager. Third wife, Elaine Plaines, was a dancer.

Once set a world's record in the backwards 75-yard dash (in 8.2 seconds).

He was very dedicated to the people of Harlem and often donated his time and money to the people, in an era when it was much needed. The people of Harlem showed their appreciation, to someone they saw as a great gentleman, when they lined the streets in their thousands on the day of his funeral. Having lived a generous and fun-loving lifestyle he died almost penniless and his funeral was paid for by a collection of his celebrity colleagues (including Frank Sinatra).

Though it borrowed his name, Jerry Jeff Walker's 1968 song "Mr. Bojangles" (covered by many other artists, including Sammy Davis Jr. in 1972) was about a fantasy character who had little in common with Robinson. Robinson did not drink, was never a down-and-outer and was always a fastidious dresser. His dancing style was always close to the ground, never "leap . . . and lightly touch down.".

Was the best man at the first wedding of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige. .

Widely credited with coining the adjective "copasetic," or at the very least popularizing the term.

Inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002 (inaugural class).

Portrayed by Gregory Hines in Bojangles (2001) (TV).

In 1982, a pair of his tap shoes were on display in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute.

He died penniless. Ed Sullivan quietly paid for his funeral because he thought he deserved a dignified burial.

Quote from Bojangles

"What success I achieved in the theater is due to the fact that I have always worked just as hard when there were ten people in the house as when there were thousands. Just as hard in Springfield, Illinois, as on Broadway."