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Are you a fan of Mr. Bojangles

I love to hear from my readers

From the lens Bill "Mr. Bojangles" Robinson.

  • Susan52 Aug 9, 2011 @ 6:20 pm | delete
    Thanks for featuring my Shirley Temple lens. I love that video with Shirley and Mr. Bojangles!
  • Trina Thompson Apr 20, 2011 @ 9:18 pm | delete
    yes, i thank Mr. Robinson for what he did for the arts, i grow up driving pass his statue in Richmond, VA and only when i bought my daughter home for her spring break did we stop take pictures and then i googled him. Thanks again Mr. Robinson
  • Wolf Mar 28, 2010 @ 12:12 pm | delete
    Thank you very much for writing about 'Bojangles', it is very informative!
    Personally I like the versions by Sammy Davis,Jr. and by Neil Diamond best. I also like the version by Nina Simone.
  • Oosquid Jan 15, 2010 @ 1:52 am | delete
    I always had the impression that Mr. Bojangles was a character from the late nineteenth century. Well I learned a lot from this lens, thanks for making it. 5 stars.
  • Laniann Oct 14, 2009 @ 12:40 pm | delete
    What a wonderful lens. I enjoyed watching all your videos. 5*s
  • Laniann Oct 14, 2009 @ 12:35 pm | in reply to Sorry | delete
    Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
  • Sorry May 15, 2009 @ 3:03 am | delete
    The song was inspired by an encounter with a street performer in the New Orleans first precinct jail. Although this man could tap dance, the inspiration for the song was not the famous stage and movie dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson nor the New Orleans blues musician Babe Stovall.

    According to Walker, a murder on the July 4th weekend of 1965 precipitated the arrest of all the street people in the area. In the crowded cell, a disheveled old homeless man began to talk to Walker who had been arrested earlier for drunkenness. The man told various stories of his life but the tone darkened after 'Mr Bojangles' recalled his dog who'd been run over. Someone then asked for something to lighten the mood and the man obliged with a tap dance.

    Walker mentions that all the men in the cell had nicknames to prevent easy identification by the police. The dancer's nickname was 'Mr Bojangles'. In his autobiography 'Gypsy Songman',[1] Walker makes it clear the man he met was white. Further, in an interview with BBC Radio 4 in August 2008 he pointed out that at the time the jail cells in New Orleans were segregated along color lines.
  • 2FriendsTreasures Apr 30, 2009 @ 8:51 pm | delete
    Great lens...five stars....lensrolled to my Sammy Davis Jr lens
  • spirituality Apr 16, 2009 @ 6:45 am | delete
    Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
  • OhMe Feb 23, 2009 @ 3:24 am | delete
    I sure enjoyed learning more about Mr Bojangles. I love the song and his dancing. He was fabulous and so is this lens.
  • mysticmama Feb 18, 2009 @ 4:33 pm | delete
    fun lens, my dad used to sing that song when I was a kid, always makes me tear up, lol...5*
  • GrowWear Nov 21, 2008 @ 7:07 pm | delete
    Such a beautiful song, TeaLady, and a lovely lens about Mr. Bojangles. Thank you for the walk down memory lane. :)
  • Susan52 Aug 19, 2008 @ 5:00 am | delete
    I learned a lot. Thanks! (Returning the lensroll to my Shirley Temple lens.)

by

TeaLady

Mr. Bojangles has been a favorite song for many years.

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