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Birth
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was bor Luther Robinson. Bojangle refers to his happy-go-lucky ebullience. -
Beginning of dancing career
Joined traveling company and entertained audeices far from his home. -
Work
He got his first professional job performing as a member of the pickaninny chorus for Mayme Remington with The South Before the War. -
Birth of tapping career
Started dancing for pennies. Began working as stableboy. -
Period: to
Team Work
He teamed with George W. Cooper. Bound by the "two-colored" rule in vaudeville, which restricted blacks to performing in pairs, they performed together on the Keith and Orpheum circuits, but did not wear blackface makeup that performers customarily used. -
Career
Perforemd on stage in vaudeille shows featuring numbers by dancers, singers, and actors. -
Fame began
Entered business with Marty Forkins, who helped him to fame. -
Working
Began working as solo acts in nightclubs. -
Negative Sides
Robinson was a gambler who possessed a quick temper and carried a gold-plated revolver and received an assault charge. -
Stair Dance
Robinson's Stari Dance was ntroduced and was distinguished by its showmanship and sound, each step emitting a different pitch and rhythm. -
Marriage
He married Fannie Clay who became his business manager, secretary, and partner in efforts to fight the barriers of racial prejudice. -
Later Life
At age 50, he appeared in front of his first white audeince. -
Filiming
His first film, Dixiana had a predominantly white cast. -
Achievements
Robinson was named "Mayor of Harlem." -
Film Apearrances
Appeared in The Little Colonel, In Old Kentucky, The Littlest Rebel -
Film Appearances
Appeared in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Just Around the Corner. -
Later Life
At the age of 61, he performed in The Hot Mikado, which is a jazz rendition of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta performed at the New York World’s Fair. Celebrated his 61st birthday dancign on broadway and continued to dance throughout his sixties. -
Film Appearances
Appeared in war-time all black musical film, Stormy Weather. -
Death
Dies of a chronic heart condition. -
Legacy
U.S. Senate declared "National Tap Dance Day" to be on MAy 25, which is his birthday, in honor of him.
