Remembering Tap Dancer Bill Robinson (1878-1949)

STAGE NAME: Bill Robinson
FULL NAME: Luther Robinson
NICKNAME: "Bojangles"
CATCH PHRASE: "Everything's Copacetic"
DATE OF BIRTH: May 25, 1878
PLACE OF BIRTH: Richmond Virginia
DATE OF DEATH: November 25, 1949 (age 71)
PLACE OF DEATH: New York City, New York State
BURIED: Cemetery of the Evergreens, Brooklyn, New York

Family of Bill Robinson
FATHER: Maxwell Robinson
MOTHER: Maria Robinson
WIFE 1907-1922: Lena Chase
WIFE 1922-1943: Fannie S. Clay
WIFE: 1944-1949: Elaine Plaines (until his death)

Films Featuring Bill Robinson
Bill Robinson was featured14 Hollywood films, including four in which he co-starred with Shirley Temple and a film loosely based on his life "Stormy Weather" in which he co-starred with Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, and the Nicholas Brothers tap dancing team.

Videos of Bill Robinson Dancing

Live Stage Productions Featuring Bill Robinson
1928: "Blackbirds of 1928"
1930: "Brown Buddies"
1939: "The Hot Mikado"
1940: "All in Fun"
1945: "Memphis Bound"

Bill Robison co-founded "New York Black Yankees" baseball team in 1936.

U.S. National Tap Dance Day was designated as being on May 25 because that is Bill Robinson's birth month and day.

Resources

Wikipedia "Bill Robinson" Article

Biography.com "Bill Robinson" Profile