| Description |
3 sound cassettes (4 hr., 20 min.) + 1 transcript (85 leaves ; 28 cm.) |
| Note |
Interviewed by Dianne Walker, February 6 and 8, 1997, in Mr. Brown's New York City apartment. |
|
For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2039. |
| Summary |
Cassette 1. Recorded February 6, 1997. Mr. Brown discusses his childhood in Baltimore; the influence of Albert "Pops" Whitman and Earl "Snakehips" Tucker on his dancing; the practice of trading steps; his first performing experience; his first touring experience; his first dance act, The Three Aces; his admiration for the dancing of Baby Laurence; his dance trio, Speed Kings; experiencing racism while on tour with The Brownskin Models; his favorite musicians and tunes; rivalry between jazz musicians and tap dancers; defines tap dancing; describes the differences between black and white big bands; and the relationships between black and white musicians. |
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Cassette 2. Recorded February 6, 1997. Mr. Brown further comments on relationships between black and white musicians; then describes social dancing at the New York City's Savoy Ballroom and Baltimore's Goodhope Hall; various dancers and their acts, including Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Carnell Lyons, Bubba Gaines, and Honi Coles; compares the dancing of Baby Laurence to Teddy Hale, the Hoofers to the Copasetics; discusses women tap dancers, including Louise Madison, The Edward Sisters and Alice Whitman [of the Whitman Sisters]; dancing with Beige and Brown; integrating paddle and roll into his own act; his partnership with Teddy Hale and Leon Collins; his friendship with Collins; performing a solo act; and the history of the Copasetics Club. |
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Cassette 3. Recorded February 8, 1997. Mr. Brown discusses filming the documentary Great feats of feet; teaching tap dancing; the dancing and musicality of Charles "Cookie" Cook; the decline and subsequent revival of tap dancing's popularity; touring Africa for the State Department; touring to Berlin; performing with Duke Ellington; performing at the Apollo Theatre in New York; his mother's enduring influence on his character; the death of his son Ricky; his admiration for Savion Glover's dancing; dancing the charleston as a young performer; and his most embarrassing moment in show business. |
| Local Note |
Archival original: *MGZTCO 3-2039. 3 sound cassettes. |
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Transcript preservation original: *MGZMTO 3-2039. |
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Dubbing master: *MGZTD 10-2039. 7 1/2 in. per sec.; 10 in. reel; polyester; half-track. |
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Interview funded by the National Initiative to Preserve American Dance (NIPAD) |
| Subject |
Whitman, Albert Pops.
|
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Tucker, Snakehips.
|
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Jackson, Laurence Donald, 1921-1974.
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Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949.
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Lyons, Carnell.
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Gaines, Bubba.
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Coles, Honi, 1911-1992.
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Hale, Teddy.
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Whitman, Alice.
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Collins, Leon.
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Cook, Charles, 1917-1991.
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Glover, Savion.
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Speed Kings (Performing group)
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Copasetics.
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Savoy Ballroom (New York, N.Y.)
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Apollo Theater (Harlem, New York, N.Y.)
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Great feats of feet (Motion picture)
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Racism.
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Tap dancing.
|
| Local Subject |
Paddle and roll.
|
| Subject |
Dance, Black -- United States.
|
| Local Subject |
Audiotapes -- Brown, B.
|
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Audiotapes -- Walker, D.
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| Added Author |
Walker, Dianne, Interviewer.
|
| Donor/Sponsor |
National Initiative to Preserve American Dance.
|
|
Oral History Archive. Oral History Project.
|
| Call No. |
*MGZMT 3-2039 (Transcript)
|
| Research Call Number |
*MGZMT 3-2039 (Transcript)
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*MGZTC 3-2039 (Sound cassette)
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