Originally shared by Historic PictoricMichael Jackson did not invent the moonwalk!
Bill Bailey moonwalking in 1955, decades before Michael JacksonIn this gif, tap dancer Bill Bailey is performing the move on the Apollo stage in 1955.
Jackson debuted his Moonwalk almost thirty years after Bailey’s Apollo performance. He performed the move while singing “Billie Jean” at Motown’s 25th anniversary special entitled Motown: Yesterday, Tomorrow, Forever in 1983. At the time the Moonwalk was obscure; Jackson put the dance move into the mainstream, with aspiring dancers still trying to learn it today.
The Moonwalk subsequently became Jackson’s signature move, so much so that he named his 1988 film after it: Moonwalker. Most believe the dance was his invention. Music and dance historians are quick to point out that singers like James Brown, too, have been doing a similar move. The origins, however, lead back to Bill Bailey.
Bailey was recorded doing the Moonwalk—which he called “the Backslide”—as early as the 1940s film Cabin in the Sky. The film was the first major motion picture that featured popular African-American entertainers of the time. Eddie Rochester Anderson, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, and others all make appearances in Cabin in the Sky.
Bailey, a student of dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, supposedly invented the move in the late 1920s. Here’s some more info on Bailey from Majic 102 (
http://myhoustonmajic.com/2713082/bill-bailey-the-pioneer-of-the-moonwalk-video/):
“Very popular on the famous Ed Sullivan show and even performing with his sister Pearl several times, [Bailey] was also wildly popular at the Apollo as he was the main attraction on many occasions. For his era (1930’s-1950’s) he was considered the 2nd most popular rhythm tap dancer (John W. Bubbles was 1st) but Bailey was obvious more innovative because of his style and the dance he invented, ‘The Backslide’ but you all know it as the ‘Moonwalk’
He influenced a few different generations after his era was over, everyone from Sammy Davis Jr. to Gregory Hines and of course, the late Michael Jackson. Michael knew exactly who Bill Bailey was and was not afraid to tell anyone that the creator of his most famous dance the ‘Moonwalk’ was Bill Bailey. Tap dancing gave way to a more new style of dancers such as James Brown, Jackie Wilson, etc., so Bill retired in 1965 and became a very popular pastor in Harlem, only returning to dancing when his church needed funds. He would preach in the name of Jesus until his passing on December 12, 1978. [Until] this very day, many of you still perform his dance, so it’s safe to say his legacy will always live on.”
#BillBailey #MichaelJackson #MoonWalk #MoonWalking #Gif #Loop #lol #funnygifs Michael Jackson did not invent the moonwalk!
Bill Bailey moonwalking in 1955, decades before Michael Jackson
In this gif, tap dancer Bill Bailey is performing the move on the Apollo stage in 1955.
Jackson debuted his Moonwalk almost thirty years after Bailey’s Apollo performance. He performed the move while singing “Billie Jean” at Motown’s 25th anniversary special entitled Motown: Yesterday, Tomorrow, Forever in 1983. At the time the Moonwalk was obscure; Jackson put the dance move into the mainstream, with aspiring dancers still trying to learn it today.
The Moonwalk subsequently became Jackson’s signature move, so much so that he named his 1988 film after it: Moonwalker. Most believe the dance was his invention. Music and dance historians are quick to point out that singers like James Brown, too, have been doing a similar move. The origins, however, lead back to Bill Bailey.
Bailey was recorded doing the Moonwalk—which he called “the Backslide”—as early as the 1940s film Cabin in the Sky. The film was the first major motion picture that featured popular African-American entertainers of the time. Eddie Rochester Anderson, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, and others all make appearances in Cabin in the Sky.
Bailey, a student of dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, supposedly invented the move in the late 1920s. Here’s some more info on Bailey from Majic 102 (http://myhoustonmajic.com/2713082/bill-bailey-the-pioneer-of-the-moonwalk-video/):
“Very popular on the famous Ed Sullivan show and even performing with his sister Pearl several times, [Bailey] was also wildly popular at the Apollo as he was the main attraction on many occasions. For his era (1930’s-1950’s) he was considered the 2nd most popular rhythm tap dancer (John W. Bubbles was 1st) but Bailey was obvious more innovative because of his style and the dance he invented, ‘The Backslide’ but you all know it as the ‘Moonwalk’
He influenced a few different generations after his era was over, everyone from Sammy Davis Jr. to Gregory Hines and of course, the late Michael Jackson. Michael knew exactly who Bill Bailey was and was not afraid to tell anyone that the creator of his most famous dance the ‘Moonwalk’ was Bill Bailey. Tap dancing gave way to a more new style of dancers such as James Brown, Jackie Wilson, etc., so Bill retired in 1965 and became a very popular pastor in Harlem, only returning to dancing when his church needed funds. He would preach in the name of Jesus until his passing on December 12, 1978. [Until] this very day, many of you still perform his dance, so it’s safe to say his legacy will always live on.”
#BillBailey #MichaelJackson #MoonWalk #MoonWalking #Gif #Loop #lol #funnygifs