Bill Robinson

Bill " Bojangles " Robinson ( born May 25, 1878 as Luther Robinson in Richmond, Virginia, USA, † November 25, 1949 in New York) was an American tap dancer.

Life

Bill Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia. He lost his parents as an infant and was raised by his grandmother. At the age of nine, he ran away from home and began his career as a street performer. Due to his outstanding talent as a dancer, he made ​​the jump to the clubs and music halls of New York City. His dance style revolutionized tap dancing his time: Then rhythms were mainly created with the flat foot; Robinson, however, danced the first primarily on the balls. He was very successful, appeared on Broadway, in the famous Cotton Club and one of the first black tap dancers in Hollywood productions. One of his most film partners was the young Shirley Temple. For the meaning of his nickname " Bojangles " There are two explanations. Many understand it as a synonym for carefree, the black variety artist Tom Flatcher however, said the word is slang for a zankfreudigen people.

Despite its success, Robinson died a poor man. He gave a lot to charity, but was also a notorious gambler. When he died in 1949 from a chronic heart disease, he was laid in Harlem. Thousands lined the streets to pay their last respects. His coffin was carried by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin to the grave.

Filming

His life story was made ​​into a film in 2001. The main role was played by Gregory Hines.

Filmography ( selection)

Honors

Robinson's birthday, May 25, was declared in 1989 by the U.S. Congress on the national Stepptanztag.

The folk singer Jerry Jeff Walker wrote Robinson in 1968, the song " Mr. Bojangles ", which today is one of the jazz standards. Walkers song was received in 1970 by Bob Dylan, and in 1973 on the album Dylan - A Fool Such as I posted. However, it does not describe Bill Robinson himself, but a Bojangles impersonator who danced for tips.

One of Robinson's favorite sayings was " everything is copasetic ," he said he had invented the adjective itself. Copasetic is received with the meaning " in good order " in the English vernacular. After his death, the quilting Stars Billy Strayhorn, Charles Cook, Honi Coles, Cholly Atkins and LeRoy Myers founded the group "The Copasetics " to keep Robinson and his steps in memory. The legendary group existed in changing cast over decades.

In Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Corpse Bride ( 2005), with the figure " Bonejangels " at Robinson and the song "Mr. Bojangles " recalls.

Pictures of Bill Robinson

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