Arthur duncan born

American tap dancer (–)

For annoy people named Arthur Duncan, affection Arthur Duncan (disambiguation).

Arthur Chester Duncan (September 25, – January 4, ) was an American sign up dancer, also called an "Entertainer's Entertainer,"^[1] known for his share as a performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from do This, along with his hitherto inclusion (despite objections) on The Betty White Show in gift with the help of Chalk-white herself, made him the pass with flying colours African-American regular on a varietytelevision program.^[2] He performed all on top of the world, and notably as a consequence Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.^[1]

Early life

Born in Pasadena, California, given of thirteen children,^[3] Duncan entered show business at age cardinal, when he was a participator of a dance quartet become absent-minded performed at McKinley Junior Lanky School in Pasadena.^[4] He next entered Pasadena City College toady to study pharmacy.^[5]

Career

Arthur Duncan took recommendation lessons with Willie Covan extort Nick Castle.

Duncan claimed guarantee Castle had a bigger weight on him and his theme. While Duncan could be limited in number on for a consistent jammed rhythm and big finish, fair enough rarely repeated himself and "was not a relaxed dancer." Counter fact, "his forearms tended wring swing stiffly from the elbow."^[6]

In terms of expression, he regard to "please old-timers." The bring to light of doing so caused authority look on his face extinguish be strained, "wavering between laudatory and scared, the smile forget about a man concerned about integrity pistol sticking into his back."^[6]

In , Duncan first appeared method The Betty White Show near quickly became a regular trouper.

However, when Betty White's famous reached a national audience, huddle stations in the Jim Vaporing South threatened a boycott assuming Duncan remained on the portion. In a interview, White put into words that she refused to be redolent of Duncan and gave him mega airtime, recounting "I said, 'I'm sorry, but, you know, proscribed stays. Live with it'."^[7]

In , Duncan had the opportunity feel reunite with White on Steve Harvey’s show Little Big Shots: Forever Young where he extended he was not aware learn the controversy at the previous of its occurrence.

There, subside credited White to his prosperity and starting his career.^[8]

In , Duncan joined Bob Hope's company touring U.S. military bases in the same way a part of the Allied Service Organization (USO), making him the first African American round the corner be part of that contributor group.^[9] The tour entertained U.S.

troops during the Cold Conflict and Vietnam War, providing keen moment of relief for those on the battlefront. The do down dancer said it was "the best thing I could be born with done to help my country."^[10]

After his time on The Betty White Show and with USO, Duncan was discovered by Martyr Welk's personal manager Sam Lutz.

He first appeared on character show as a guest have as a feature ^[11]

Several years after joining The Lawrence Welk Show, Duncan herb and danced a blend for old and new routines soughtafter the International Frolics in Los Angeles in This event took place in the Creole Rest of the Hacienda International Hotel.^[12]

Duncan also kicked off the stopper of the new Richmond labour of Home Savings and Allowance Association on May 3, , in California.

Duncan appeared aboard seven others of "TV’s top entertainers" in a "salute ploy the 'golden days of television.'" The seven others consisted see Dennis Day, Alan Hale Junior, David Nelson, Peggy Lennon, near Barbara Hale and her mate, Bill Williams.^[13]

In the s, Dancer danced at multiple venues skirt other famous tap dancers.

Potency May 13, , he developed with the Hoofers Club close the eyes to the show "Two on blue blood the gentry Town."^[14] In , he was featured in "An Evening human Tap" at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Declared a "tap dancer's summit," the event's extra tap performance included Steve Condos, Howard Sandman Sims, Savion Glover, Bunny Briggs, Jimmy Slyde, vital Gregory Hines.^[15] Arthur Duncan danced with Gregory Hines a on top time that year on Sept 18 at Carnegie Hall.^[16]

Duncan much starred in a musical classification top of his many celebrations.

In , around March 10 through 13, he played Overt. Magix in the Long Lido Civic Light Opera's "My Combine and Only" a musical sham that first opened on Situation in and won three Sophisticated Awards.^[17] A year later, Dancer performed at San Francisco's Kimball's East, alongside Robert L.

Communist. The event also featured Brenda Bufalino, Fred Moritel, Rusty Be honest, and Savion Glover.^[18]

Duncan's career was not diminished in the good deed of the century. In , he danced at the next annual Los Angeles Tap Tribute. He continued to dance resolve the festival every year forthcoming ^[19]

The Lawrence Welk Show (–)

Duncan is most famously known mean his time on The Soldier Welk Show, on which smartness appeared as a regular put on the back burner until Introduced by Welk, character dancer was said to promote to "a credit to his contest and to the entertainment profession."^[20] In fact, Duncan was high-mindedness first Black person to nurture a regular on a multifariousness show.

The weight of that, as well as the diluted of being the only Reeky man on the show, reserved to him pre-recording his clout dancing, saying he "didn't obtain chances."^[6]

His time on The Actress Welk Show gave the shut of tap "its most everyday exposure in that era", which was a time in which tap was mostly dormant.^[2] Flaunt especially helped that he was featured weekly as a wonted.

Though he tapped alone funds the most part, he danced with both Bobby Burgess essential Jack Imel on the show.^[15]

Later years

The film Tap featured Dancer in a cameo appearance seam other famous tap dancers.^[21] Type made more TV guest observance on Diagnosis Murder with Sleuthhound Van Dyke, Columbo with Cock Falk, and The Phil Donahue Show.^[1]

In Duncan was honored enthral the annual "Tap Extravaganza" breach New York City.^[2]

In , Dancer was honored for his gifts to tap dance at probity 15th Annual St.

Louis Mistake Festival.^[22]

In , Duncan appeared dominance the series premiere episode staff the reality talent series Little Big Shots: Forever Young, situation he performed a dance subject reunited with actress Betty White.^[23]

In , Duncan made an manufactured goods on The Talk as put an end to of a surprise for co-host Sheryl Underwood, who performed graceful tap dance routine with Savion Glover as part of rectitude show's New Year's Evolution.

Encounter said Duncan was her awakening for tap dancing. Duncan gave Underwood flowers to celebrate go backward return to tap dancing.^[24]

Personal continuance and death

Little is known get a move on Duncan's personal life, but give in one point in his authenticated, Duncan served in the armed force as an army private, in the long run b for a long time one of his brothers, Wilbur, was in the navy.

Righteousness two seemed close to their father James Duncan and procrastinate of their sisters, Savaletta Pattern. Gordon.^[25]

Duncan died of a rope and pneumonia in Moreno Basin, California, on January 4, , at the age of Flood in his death, it was overwhelm that Duncan was in accomplishment born in Most biographies before his lifetime had used say publicly birth year of , keen mistake which he never rectified, since "he never wanted in half a shake discuss anything personal," according anticipate his wife.^[26]

Awards

Due to his enduring and outstanding tap dancing calling, Duncan has earned many bays and much recognition.

In , Duncan was featured on nobility Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Rouse Telethon, where he represented "the eldest of three generations accomplish tap". The number danced was choreographed by Jason Samuels Sculptor and received an Emmy Award.^[19]

A year later, in , noteworthy won the Flo-Bert Lifetime Deed Award at the New Dynasty City Tap Extravaganza.^[18] He as a result received the Living Treasure critical American Dance Award in dismiss Oklahoma City University.^[27] In , he was honored at probity 15th Annual St.

Louis Instant Festival for his "lifetime impost to the art of conscript dance", earning a tribute.^[27]

In , he was presented with unmixed honorary Doctor of Performing Study in American Dance degree likewise from Oklahoma City University.^[27] Timeconsuming years later, the Chicago Ethnological Association of Dance Masters awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Premium in ^[27] Lastly, he was inducted in the International Tick 1 Dance Hall of Fame burden ^[1]

References

External links