人の味わい とか 思う
くうぅ
たまらん
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Hello Everyone, Have a beautiful week.
In tonight’s episode of The Hollywood Palace, Sammy Davis Jr and “Baby” Laurence perform together.
What do you think of the performance?
In the arts we recognize many people, some paint, some sculpture and many dance. Plenty of artists have contributed greatly to their chosen field, however, artists come and go, and some have sadly been forgotten to time. Whilst those such as Dickie Wells or even Leonard Reed who helped “Baby” Laurence give him his foundations along his journey to what he became known for today as a rhythmic extraordinaire. But very few ever become a Master in their genre, such as “Baby” Laurence. Today marks his 99th Birthday anniversary.
Baby Laurence:
After Baby Laurence’s parents tragically died in their home in Baltimore, Baby Laurence who did not wish to live with other family members headed to New York and found work immediately.
Prior to New York, Baby Laurence was not a dancer, he sang as an eleven year old in Don Redman’s band. Finally when he arrived in New York City, it did not take him long to learn how to tap dance by hanging around the Hoofers Club watching and learning to tap dance.
Harold Mablin and Eddie Rector were obliging in helping the young Baby Laurence with hoofing.
Other Tap Dancers also offered advice, Warren Berry (The Berry Brothers),
“We told him he’d never be a dancer.”
And sometimes the experts get it wrong, as a performer it is important not to give up on someone’s say so.
Warren Berry then went on to say “and then one day he was better than any of us.”
Baby Laurence spoke about those early days.
“I don’t think I ever got used to the idea. They always took such good care of me.”
“I was lucky; I got a job at Dickie Wells’s night club (Harlem) right away. Business was so fine that sometimes I made as much as two hundred dollars a night in tips – more money then was good for me.”
In fact, it was dancer Richard “Dickie” Wells, of Mordecai, Wells & Taylor fame who gave him the nickname Baby Laurence.
Baby Laurence talks about tap dancing and his artistry.
“Tap dancing is very much like jazz music. The dancer improvises his own solo and expresses himself.” – Jazz Dance.
“From my point of view, having a choreographer tell me what to do would ruin everything. I wouldn’t be able to improvise or interpret the music, and I couldn’t express myself.”
Today’s performance clearly demonstrates, how unique and talented Baby Laurence was, minus a choreographer.
“Baby” Laurence Donald Jackson, Born, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, February 24th 1921 – Died, Manhattan, New York, USA, April 2nd 1974.
Did You Know?
Today’s little gem has Sammy Davis Jr as host of the TV Show, The Hollywood Palace, Season 5, Episode 4. This episode aired on Tuesday, 26th September, 1967.
The Hollywood Palace was a Television Variety Show that ran for 7 seasons between 1964 and 1970.
Choreographers:
The Hollywood Palace had various choreographers during its Seven Seasons, such as but not limited to, Marc Breaux, Hermes Pan, David Winters, Patricia Denise and Rod Alexander.