Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Signed Photo

A 5.5" x 7" publicity photograph signed along the bottom, "Best Wishes / Bill Robinson". Sepia-toned photograph portrays a smiling Robinson, with 20th Century Fox logo at bottom right. Some smudging to ink at signature. Light corner creasing and scattered soiling. In near fine condition.

Bill Robinson (1878-1949) was an American tap dancer, actor and singer. He was the best known and the most highly paid African-American entertainer in the United States during the first half of the 20th century. His career began in the age of minstrel shows and moved to vaudeville, Broadway theatre, the recording industry, Hollywood films, radio, and television. Robinson's signature routine was the stair dance, in which he would tap up and down a set of stairs in a rhythmically complex sequence of steps, a routine that he unsuccessfully attempted to patent. Although there are several theories on the origin of his nickname, Robinson himself said he was called "Bojangles" as a child in Richmond, Virginia. Despite earning more than two million dollars during his lifetime, Robinson died penniless in 1949 from heart failure. Much of his wealth went to charities in Harlem and beyond. His funeral was arranged and paid for by longtime friend and television host Ed Sullivan.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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