Sportin' Life: John W. Bubbles, An American Classic (Cultural Biographies)

This book is the first published biography of the tap dancer, singer, actor, and comedian John W. Bubbles. From an impoverished childhood in Nashville, Bubbles rose to prominence in the world of entertainment, fashioning a long and varied career in vaudeville, Broadway, movies, and television. Along the way he invented a new style of tap dancing (now called rhythm tap) and created the role of Sportin’ Life for George Gershwin’s classic opera Porgy and Bess. With pianist Buck Washington he formed the team Buck and Bubbles, one of the greatest acts in the history of vaudeville. As a tap dancer in the 1920s and 1930s, Bubbles not only inspired a generation of dancers but also probably influenced the development of jazz music as well. Through it all he had to contend with the soul-crushing barriers of a country built on white supremacy. Although his dancing innovations provided a model for white movie stars such as Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell, Bubbles himself was denied success in Hollywood because of his skin color. Even in vaudeville, his natural element, the powers-that-be artificially restricted his advancement so as not to overwhelm his white competitors. These injustices were the greatest sorrows of a heady and tumultuous life, one marked by dazzling professional achievements as well as corrosive personal addictions. Drawing from a wealth of newly discovered primary sources, this book places that life in the context of its time. Though little known today, John W. Bubbles was the ultimate song-and-dance man. A groundbreaking tap dancer, he provided inspiration to Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, and the Nicholas Brothers. His vaudeville team Buck and Bubbles captivated theater audiences for more than thirty years. Most memorably, in the role of Sportin' Life he stole the show in the original production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess , in the process crafting a devilish alter ego that would follow him through life. Coming of age with the great jazz musicians, he shared countless stages with the likes of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Ella Fitzgerald. Some of his disciples believed his rhythmic ideas had a formative impact on jazz itself. In later years he made a comeback as a TV personality, revving up the talk shows of Steve Allen and Johnny Carson and playing comic foil to Bob Hope, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball. Finally, after a massive stroke ended his dancing career, he made a second comeback--complete with acclaimed performances from his wheelchair--as a living legend inspiring a new generation of entertainers. His biggest obstacle was the same one blocking the path of every other Black performer of his time: unrelenting, institutionalized racism. Yet Bubbles was an entertainer of the old school, fierce and indestructible. In this compelling and deeply researched biography, his dramatic story is told for the very first time. John W. Bubbles was the ultimate song-and-dance man. A groundbreaking tap dancer, he provided inspiration to Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, and the Nicholas Brothers. His vaudeville team Buck and Bubbles captivated theater audiences for more than thirty years. Most memorably, in the role of Sportin' Life he stole the show in the original production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, in the process crafting a devilish alter ego that would follow him through life. Coming of age with the great jazz musicians, he shared countless stages with the likes of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Ella Fitzgerald. Some of his disciples believed his rhythmic ideas had a formative impact on jazz itself. In later years he made a comeback as a TV personality, revving up the talk shows of Steve Allen and Johnny Carson and playing comic foil to Bob Hope, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball. Finally, after a massive stroke ended his dancing career, he made a second comebackcomplete with acclaimed performances from his wheelchairas a living legend inspiring a new generation of entertainers. His biggest obstacle was the same one blocking the path of every other Black performer of his time: unrelenting, institutionalized racism. Yet Bubbles was an entertainer of the old school, fierce and indestructible. In this compelling and deeply researched biography, his dramatic story is told for the first time. John W. Bubbles was the ultimate song-and-dance man. A groundbreaking tap dancer, he provided inspiration to Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, and the Nicholas Brothers. His vaudeville team Buck and Bubbles captivated theatre audiences for more than 30 years. Most memorably, in the role of 'Sportin' Life' he stole the show in the original production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, in the process crafting a devilish alter ego that would follow him through life. Coming of age with the great jazz musicians, he shared countless stages with the likes of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Ella Fitzgerald. Some of his disciples believed his rhythmic ideas had a formative impact on jazz itself. In later years he made a comeback as a TV personality, revving up the talk shows of Steve Allen and Johnny Carson and playing comic foil to Bob Hope, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball Sportin' Life tells for the first time the full, dramatic story of one of America's great song-and-dance men. A groundbreaking tap dancer who provided inspiration to the likes of Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, and the Nicholas Brothers, John W. Bubbles is the epitome of "a highly influential but mostly forgotten" figure.