(father of Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.) was broadcast over the radio. Robinson's funeral, arranged by longtime friend and television host Ed Sullivan, was held at the 369th Infantry Regiment Armory and attended by thousands, including many stars from the entertainment industry. Much of his wealth went to charities in Harlem and beyond before his death. Death and Legacyĭespite earning millions during his lifetime, Robinson died poor in 1949, at the age of 71. The team was a part of the Negro National League until 1948, when Major League Baseball first integrated racially. In 1936, He cofounded the New York Black Yankees team, based in Harlem, with financier James Semler.
Robinson was involved in baseball as well as theater. Robinson and Plaines were together until Robinson's death in 1949.
Clay served as her husband's manager and assisted him in founding the Negro Actors Guild of America, which advocated for the rights of African American performers. His 1907 marriage to Lena Chase ended in 1922. Additionally, as a young man, he earned the nickname "Bojangles" for his contentious tendencies. According to Robinson, he used physical force to compel his brother, Bill, to switch names with him, since he did not care for his given name of Luther. After both of his parents died in 1885, Robinson was raised by his grandmother, Bedilia, who had been an enslaved person earlier in her life. His father, Maxwell, worked in a machine shop, while his mother, Maria, was a choir singer. Early Lifeīill "Bojangles" Robinson was born Luther Robinson in Richmond, Virginia, on May 25, 1878. He died in New York City on November 25, 1949. His delicate tap-dance style and cheerful demeanor made Robinson a favorite of both Black and white audiences. Who Was Bill "Bojangles" Robinson?īroadway legend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson started his career as a vaudeville performer, transitioning to Broadway and to Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was an iconic African American tap dancer and actor best known for his Broadway performances and film roles.