Bill Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia, May 25, 1878. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson started dancing for a living at the age of 6 years old in local beer gardens. He appeared as a "hoofer" or a "song and dance man".

For 25 years Robinson was well known as a nightclub and musical comedy performer, he became one of the toasts of Broadway.

In 1908 Robinson was earning as much as $3500 a week. There are many stories about Robinson. He set a world's record of 8.2 seconds for the 75-yard backward dash, he consumed ice-cream by the quarts and in celebration of his 61st birthday in 1939, he danced down Broadway from Columbus Circle to 44th Street.

Robinson appeared in numerous broadway shows and movies. In Robinson's late sixties he was still able to dance almost as well as he ever could. Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson passed on in 1949. In Harlem, schools were closed, and thousands of people lined the streets for a chance to view their beloved Bojangles once more. Politicians Black and White eulogized him, his funeral was said to have been more lavish than any other Negro of the time.