Timeline: Sandman Sims

Jan 24, 1917

Born In Fort Smith, Arkansas

Born with the name Howard Sims. He grew up in Los Angeles. He changed his name to his stage name, Sandman Sims, because he danced on sprinkled sand.

Jan 24, 1920

Learned to dance

He learned to dance at the age of three from his father, who was a barber. His father also taught Howard's 11 brothers and sisters how to dance too. "I was born dancing" - Sandman Sims

Mar 21, 1932

1930's - Wanted to be a boxer, but broke his hand and starting dancing

He learned to dance from boxing, when he would move his feet around in the rosin box.
He later taught footwork to the famous boxers Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali.
His style of dance was putting sand on the ground and then using tap shoes to dance on it. This style made a brushing and scratching sound.

Mar 1, 1947

Arrived in Harlem, New York

His close friend Archie Moore drove him to New York. Harlem was the African American community in New York at the time.
He fell into a group called the Hoofers.

Period: Mar 21, 1947 to Mar 22, 1964

Danced at Apollo

He danced at Apollo for 17 years. He was known as the Apollo theater legend.
He was the amateur competition there 25 straight times!

Mar 21, 1950

1950s - Married Sandra Hochman

He has two daughter named Mercedes White and Diana Jones and a son Howard Jr. He has 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Mar 21, 1955

Works as executioner for the Apollo Theater

He also worked as a stage manager for the Apollo

Mar 21, 1969

Opened in Tap Happenings

Tap Happenings was a revue which played off-broadway that featured Sandman sims and several other tap dancers. There were often challenges between tap dancers, where 2 dancers would try to outshine each other.

Mar 21, 1980

1980s - Tap Dance Revival

He toured the world as a representative for the U.S. State Department. He was an unofficial ambassador for tap dance to help teach tap.

Mar 21, 1984

Won National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts

He used the fellowship money to teach dance to kinds in a Harlem parking lot.

Mar 21, 1989

Held a role in the movie Tap

The movie Tap came out in 1989, and he played a character named Sandman which was based on himself. Other actors in this movie includedGregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr., and Savion Glover.