Bill Robinson (Bojangles)

Bill Robinson earned the nickname 'Bojangles,' which was a common slang term for a happy-go-lucky, outgoing dancer in the late 19th century. He became so synonymous with the moniker and his craft that he is still universally remembered as 'Mr. Bojangles.'

Robinson is widely credited with popularizing and innovating the 'stair dance,' in which he tapped out complex, syncopated rhythms on a staircase. He also championed dancing on the balls of the feet, replacing the earlier flat-footed style of tap dancing with a lighter, more agile technique.

Bill Robinson starred in four major motion pictures alongside child star Shirley Temple, starting with 'The Little Colonel' in 1935. Their famous staircase tap dance scene in that film broke racial barriers by showing a Black man and a white girl holding hands on screen.

During the height of his vaudeville and Broadway career in the 1920s and 1930s, Robinson was one of the highest-paid Black entertainers in the world. He reportedly earned over $6,000 a week—a massive sum for the era—though he famously struggled to hold onto his wealth due to his extreme generosity.