Mr. Bojangles: The Biography of Bill Robinson [Hardcover]

James Haskins (Author), N. R. Mitgang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1990

(Robinson's) life story, as recounted by Haskins and Mitgang with complete cooperation from the dancer's family and friends, stands as a moving study in bravery and a melancholy portrait of thwarted possibilities.--Booklist

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An elegantly dressed man who could neither read nor write until he was in his 40s, honorary mayor of Harlem and one of the best-known black entertainers of his time, Bill Robinson (1878-1949) grew up an orphan in Richmond, Va., where he earned a living by shining shoes and shelling peas. Based on Robinson's papers and on interviews with his wives and friends, this dutiful biography tries to explain the character and personality of the popular but enigmatic tap dancer but is more successful at chronicling his career. Here are glimpses of his struggles to overcome the color barrier on his way to stardom in white vaudeville, musicals (especially The Hot Mikado), films and radio, his addiction to gambling and compulsive need to live on borrowed money, his generosity (he performed at more than 3000 benefits) and his love for his native city. Haskins is the author of Queen of the Blues; Mitgang is a black-theater historian. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

To most people, Bill Robinson was Shirley Temple's tap-dancing partner in films of the 1930s. Yet he also was one of the country's foremost and best-loved vaudeville headliners. The authors tell of Robinson's life from his early days as an orphan in Richmond, dancing on street corners, through his illustrious career. They deal squarely with Robinson's gambling and three marriages, and succeed splendidly in detailing the hardships faced by a black performer in a white entertainment world, but at times the writing is choppy and too adulatory. Photographs not seen. Recommended. Eric W. Johnson, Univ. of Bridgeport Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (November 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688072038
• ISBN-13: 978-0688072032
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,784,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Original, May 31, 2000

By 

Michael Paxton (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mr. Bojangles: The Biography of Bill Robinson (Paperback)

"Mr. Bojangles: The Biography of Bill Robinson" not only serves as a crucial historical document, but also as a vivid portrait of a truly special man. An original in every sense of the word, Bill Robinson created a unique style of tap dancing, along with breaking the racist barriers of his time. This book superbly chronicles (with the help of first-hand source materials and interviews with people who knew him) the life of this incredible artist, entertainer, and humanitarian. You will not only learn what the world was like when Mr. Robinson struggled in his craft, but you will discover the values and convictions that drove him forward. You will be moved by the benevolence of this man's spirit--a spirit that could coin a phrase such as "Everything's Copasetic!" This is a touching and informative biography that informs the evolution of tap AND the human experience.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A living legend comes to life!, June 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mr. Bojangles: The Biography of Bill Robinson (Paperback)

You can't find anything better if you're looking for information on the great Mr. Bojangles.