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Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is born
In Richmond Virgina -
Period: to
Life Span
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Quit school
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Parents pass way
from heart failure and natural causes , he was 8 years old. His grandmother takes him and his brother into her hands. And raises them . She also was a slave -
Starts to pursue early tapping
In 1886 at the age of 9, Bojangles joined Mayme Remington's touring troupe. -
First Job
Bojangles got his first professional job in 1892, performing as a member of the Pickaninny Chorus for Mayme Remington with The South Before the start of the War. -
Enters a buck-and-wing contest
dance contest at the Bijou Theater in Brooklyn, New York, winning a gold medal and defeating Harry Swinton, star of the show In Old Kentucky and considered the best dancer of his day. -
Break from Career
In 1908, Robinson met Marty Forkins, who then became his manager. Forkins then urged Robinson to develop his solo act in nightclubs.
Robinson took a break from performances to go and serve as a rifleman in World War I. Along with fighting in the trenches, Robinson was a drum major who led the regimental band up Fifth Avenue upon the regiment's return from Europe. -
Decided to go on his own
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Married to first wife
In 1922, he married Fannie Clay who then became his business manager, secretary. Also then became his partner in efforts to fight the barriers of racial prejudice. -
Lands on Broadway
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Mayor of Harlem
A founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America, Robinson was also then named "Mayor of Harlem" in 1933. -
First all black film
Stars in first all black film called: Harlem is Heaven in 1933 -
Films are produced!!
Hooray For Love (1935)
In Old Kentucky (1935)
The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935) -
Makes debut in Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple came his way and in 1935, costarred with and coached her in “The Little Rebel” which was a huge success. Robinson would continue to go and make over 17 Movies in his career. -
Bill Robinson Dies
Over 100,000 people are proclaimed to have came out to his funeral progression. It is stated that he was very poor/ almost in poverty when he passed. Due to excessive gambiling -
National Tap Dancing Day!
US Congress named his birth date as National Tap Dancing Day. -
National Museum of Dance
He was inducted into the National Museum of Dance, New York in 1987. -
Inducted Into the Dance Hall Of Fame
Bill Robinson was inducted into the tap dance hall of fame.
