To all dancers, dance enthusiasts and tap dancers, please join us in celebrating the Birthday of Bill Bailey today 12/08/1912.
Born William Norton Bailey, a Master tap dancer and one of the Tap Kings.
He was the older brother of actress singer Pearl Bailey.
It is said that he was the first to be recorded doing the Moonwalk, he referred to it as the Backslide during the Taking a Chance on Love number in the film Cabin In the Sky – 1943… Watch his feet… Wow!!
He also appeared in 7 other TV titles
** This Is Your Life – TV series – Himself -1971 ** The Ed Sullivan Show – TV series – Episode #8.23 – 1955 – Episode #6.6 – 1952 ** Show Time at the Apollo – TV series – 1955 – Tap Dancer – Beale Street Revue – Harlem Variety Revue – Rhythm in Harlem – Variety Time ** Rhythm and Blues Revue documentary – 1955 ** Beale Street Revue 1955 ** Old American Barn Dance TV series – 1953 Emcee ** Going Native Short – 1936