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Born in Richmond, VA
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At the age of 5, he started to dance for a living
Performed in local beer gardens as a "hoofer" -
Both parents pass
He was raised by his grandmother, Bedilia, who was a former slave -
Joined Mayme Remington's touring troupe
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*Marty Forkins becomes his manager
He encouraged Robinson to perform solo -
Period: to
Served as a rifleman in N.Y.'s 15th Infantry Regiment in World War I
Along with fighting in the trenches, it was claimed that Robinson was also a drum major who led the 369th Infantry regimental band up Fifth Avenue upon the regiment's return from Europe -
Starred in Blackbirds 1928
Blackbirds 1928 was an all-black Broadway musical revue produced by Lew Leslie -
Period: to
Starred in 14 Hollywood motion pictures
Most well known for his role as Shirley Temple's butler -
Returned to the stage in 1939 to perform in The Hot Mikado
Robinson returned to the stage in 1939 at the age of 61 to perform in The Hot Mikado, a jazz rendition of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta -
Died of a chronic heart condition
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U.S. Congress named his birth date as National Tap Dancing Day (May 25th)
