Legendary Entertainer, Luther Bill Robinson, Died In New York City On November 25,1949.
Best Known As "Bojangles," Robinson Was Born In Richmond, Virginia, And With Him, A New Word Was Added To The English Language. He Coined The Term, "Copacetic," Which Meant Okay Or Fine.
Bojangles Began His Career In Vaudeville. His Tap Dancing (Considered An Original African American Art), Took Him To Broadway And Hollywood In The 1920's.
He Starred In Several Films, "Stormy Weather" (1943), And Three With Child Actress, Shirley Temple: "The Little Colonel" (1935), "The Littlest Rebel" (1936) And "Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm" (1938). With These Films He Became An American Dance Legend And Inspired Generations Of Young Dancers, Including: Sammy Davis, Jr., Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire And Michael Jackson.
Robinson Said His Nickname, Bojangles, Means "Easygoing And Happy-Go-Lucky." Sammy Davis ,Jr. Revived The Bojangles Legacy With His 1969, Hit Song, "Mr. Bojangles."
BILL ROBINSON IN "STORMY WEATHER"
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.