Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Walker, Dianne.

Description

1. 3 sound cassettes (4 hr., 20 min.) +

Summary

1. Cassette 1. Recorded February 6, 1997. Mr. Brown discusses his childhood in Baltimore; the influence of Albert "Pops" Whitman and Earl "Snakehips" Tucker on his dancing; the practice of trading steps; his first performing experience; his first touring experience; his first dance act, The Three Aces; his admiration for the dancing of Baby Laurence; his dance trio, Speed Kings; experiencing racism while on tour with The Brownskin Models; his favorite musicians and tunes; rivalry between jazz musicians and tap dancers; defines tap dancing; describes the differences between black and white big bands; and the relationships between black and white musicians.
2. Cassette 2. Recorded February 6, 1997. Mr. Brown further comments on relationships between black and white musicians; then describes social dancing at the New York City's Savoy Ballroom and Baltimore's Goodhope Hall; various dancers and their acts, including Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Carnell Lyons, Bubba Gaines, and Honi Coles; compares the dancing of Baby Laurence to Teddy Hale, the Hoofers to the Copasetics; discusses women tap dancers, including Louise Madison, The Edward Sisters and Alice Whitman [of the Whitman Sisters]; dancing with Beige and Brown; integrating paddle and roll into his own act; his partnership with Teddy Hale and Leon Collins; his friendship with Collins; performing a solo act; and the history of the Copasetics Club.
3. Cassette 3. Recorded February 8, 1997. Mr. Brown discusses filming the documentary Great feats of feet; teaching tap dancing; the dancing and musicality of Charles "Cookie" Cook; the decline and subsequent revival of tap dancing's popularity; touring Africa for the State Department; touring to Berlin; performing with Duke Ellington; performing at the Apollo Theatre in New York; his mother's enduring influence on his character; the death of his son Ricky; his admiration for Savion Glover's dancing; dancing the charleston as a young performer; and his most embarrassing moment in show business.

Donor/Sponsor

1. National Initiative to Preserve American Dance.

Alternative title

1. Dance Oral History Project.
2. Dance Audio Archive.

Subject

1. Whitman, Albert Pops
2. Tucker, Snakehips
3. Jackson, Laurence Donald, 1921-1974
4. Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949
5. Lyons, Carnell
6. Gaines, Bubba
7. Coles, Honi, 1911-1992
8. Hale, Teddy
9. Whitman, Alice
10. Collins, Leon
11. Cook, Charles, 1917-1991
12. Glover, Savion
13. Speed Kings (Performing group)
14. Copasetics
15. Savoy Ballroom (New York, N.Y.)
16. Apollo Theater (New York, N.Y. : 125th Street)
17. Great feats of feet (Motion picture)
18. Racism
19. Tap dancing
20. Dance, Black > United States

Call number

1. *MGZMT 3-2039

Note

1. Interviewed by Dianne Walker, February 6 and 8, 1997, in Mr. Brown's New York City apartment.
2. For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-2039.

Access (note)

1. Photography of the transcript permitted for research purposes only.

Author

1. Brown, Buster, 1913-2002, interviewee.

Title

1. Interview with James Buster Brown [sound recording]

Imprint

1. 1997.

Local note

1. Archival original: *MGZTCO 3-2039. 3 sound cassettes.
2. Transcript preservation original: *MGZMTO 3-2039.
3. Dubbing master: *MGZTD 10-2039. 7 1/2 in. per sec.; 10 in. reel; polyester; half-track.
4. Interview funded by the National Initiative to Preserve American Dance (NIPAD)

Restricted access

1. Photography of the transcript permitted for research purposes only.

Local subject

1. Paddle and roll.

Local subject

1. Audiotapes -- Brown, B.
2. Audiotapes -- Walker, D.

Added author

1. Walker, Dianne. ivr.

Research call number

1. *MGZMT 3-2039 (Transcript)
2. *MGZTC 3-2039 (Sound cassette)