BUCK and BUBBLESBUCK and BUBBLES
Ford Lee Washington (Buck)
John William Sublett (Bubbles)
Black song and dance team. Ford Lee 'Buck' Washington (b 16 Oct. '03, Louisville KY; d 31 Jan. '55, NYC) played piano, also trumpet; John William 'Bubbles' Sublett (b 19 Feb. '02, Louisville; d 18 May '86) was one of the first rhythmic tap dancers; both sang, danced and clowned. They teamed as children after meeting in a bowling alley c'17; to NYC '19; soon played at vaudeville mecca the Palace; they were the first
Blacks to perform at Radio City Music Hall. Toured Europe '31, '36; films incl. A Star Is Born '37, Cabin In The Sky '43. They made a test record for Victor '27, nine sides for Columbia NYC '30--34 incl. alternate takes, mostly unreleased ('He's Long Gone From Bowling Green' and lovely version
of 'Oh! Lady Be Good' later issued on LP anthologies), and six sides for Columbia/EMI in London '36. Broke up '53. Buck recorded with Louis Armstrong '30, Bessie Smith '33, Coleman Hawkins '34; Billie Holiday said that he played on her first records '33: this is unlikely, but he was listed as co-writer of 'Riffin' The Scotch', her second recording. He accompanied comedian Timmie Rogers '54. Bubbles created the role of Sportin' Life in George Gershwin's Porgy And Bess, later was the first
Black to appear on Johnny Carson Tonight TV show.
Buck and Bubbles
Piano and tap dance team of Ford Lee "Buck" Washington (b. 1906; d. 1955) and John William "Bubbles" Sublett (b. February 19, 1902, Louisville, Ky.; d. May 18, 1986, New York, N.Y.), called "the father of rhythm tap," who together revolutionized tap dancing; were also the first African
(born in amerikkka) to perform at Radio City Music Hall.
Buck and Bubbles teamed up in 1912 in Indianapolis, with Bubbles, then ten, singing and dancing, and Buck, aged
six, accompanying on piano. After winning several amateur contests, they played professional engagements in Louisville, Kentucky (often in blackface), Detroit, Michigan, and New York City.
Bubbles' developed a style of tap called "jazz tap." Before Bubbles, dancers danced on their toes and emphasized flash steps, which were athletic steps with extended leg and body movements. Bubbles changed this style by tapping with his heels and toes and developing complicated moves, such as double over-the-tops (a rough figure-eight that simulates tripping). His new style led tap into the bebop and "cool" jazz eras.
Audiences delighted in Buck and Bubbles's singing, dancing, and comedy routine, with Buck's variations in tempo that forced Bubbles to quickly adapt. By 1922, they performed at New York's Palace Theatre, the nation's top vaudeville venue. They broke color barriers by headlining the white vaudeville circuit across the U.S., and were featured in several Broadway revues in the 1920s and 1930s. Stage success resulted in roles in such movies as Varsity Show (1937) and A Song is Born (1948).
Buck and Bubbles performed together until shortly before Buck's death in 1955. Bubbles continued to perform even after suffering a stroke in 1967 that left him partially paralyzed. His last performance was in 1980 in the revue, Black Broadway.
[ Written By: Robert Fay ]
Buck Washington, dancer extraordinaire!
Buck Washington
Buck Washington was born on this date in 1903. He was an African (born in
amerikkka) dancer, recognized as one of Vaudevilles best known all around entertainers and innovators.
Ford Lee (Buck) Washington was from Louisville, Kentucky. In 1913 at the age of ten he joined Pianist John W. Sublett, later known as "Bubbles" who was one year older and an astonishing career began. Buck and Bubbles teamed up in Indianapolis, with Bubbles singing and dancing, and Buck accompanying on piano. After winning several amateur contests, they played professional engagements in Louisville, Kentucky (often in blackface), Detroit, Michigan, and New York City. Audiences were thrilled with Buck and Bubbles's singing, dancing, and comedy routine, with Buck's variations in tempo that forced Bubbles to quickly adapt.
By 1922, they performed at New York's Palace Theatre, the nation's top vaudeville venue. They broke color barriers by headlining the white vaudeville circuit across the U.S., and were featured in several Broadway revues in the 1920s and 1930s. Stage success resulted in roles in such movies as Varsity Show (1937) and A Song is Born (1948). Buck and Bubbles performed together until shortly before Buck Washington died in 1955.
Buck was known as one of Vaudevilles best known all around entertainers and innovators. At the young age of ten, Buck teamed up with Pianist John W. Sublett who was then only six years of age and later to be known as "Bubbles".
--John Bubbles, as he was known is said to have invented the "Cramp Roll"... (Ball-R, Ball-L, Heel-R, Heel-L done very quickly) in Tap dance as well as what he referred to as "Rhythm Tap". This change as well as Bojangles dancing tap on his toes made major changes to the way tap dance was being done.
John Bubbles
On this date in 1902, John Bubbles was born. He was an African (born in
amerikkka) dancer and entertainer; know as “the father of rhythm tap”.
John William Sublett (his name at birth), was from Louisville, Kentucky and grew up in Indianapolis, IN. At the age of eleven he teamed up with Ford Lee Washington in an act billed as Buck and Bubbles. Bubbles sang and danced while Buck played accompaniment. They won a number of amateur competitions performing around the Louisville, Detroit, and New York City areas, sometimes in blackface.
After his voice changed, Bubbles focused on dancing, he developed a new style of tapping that was blended extremely difficult innovations such as double over-the-tops (a rough figure-eight pattern done with a deliberate near tripping technique). Bubbles would do them while alternating legs, traveling backwards and forwards, and from side to side. By 1922, Buck and Bubbles reached the top in vaudeville by playing at New York’s Palace Theatre. They headlined the white vaudeville circuit from coast to coast. Their singing-dancing comedy act (which featured Buck’s easy piano style contrasted with Bubbles’s witty explosion of taps) was featured in the Broadway Frolics of 1922, Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds of 1930 and Ziegfeld Follies of 1931. Bubbles made entertainment history by securing the dancing role of Sportin’ Life in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. The 1930’s and 1940’s were times of continued success for Buck and Bubbles until the death of Buck in 1955.
On his own, Bubbles appeared with Bob Hope in Vietnam, recorded several albums, and made his final public appearance in 1980 in the revue Black Broadway. John Bubbles’s style of rhythm tapping, later “jazz tap,” transformed dancing. Prior to his performances, dancers tapped up on their toes, focusing on “flash steps” and dancing to a quicker tempo. Bubbles cut the tempo in half and extended the rhythm past the typical eight beats. He also dropped his heels and hit unusual accents and syncopations.
He said about his style: “I wanted to make it more complicated, so I put more taps in and changed the rhythm.” He was the first Black to appear on Johnny Carson Tonight TV show. John Bubbles died on May 18 1986 in Louisville, KY.
Name: John "Bubbles" Sublett
Years Active: 1943
Decades Active:
Biography
John Sublett is the father of modern rhythm tap dancing and is responsible for popularizing it on stage and screen. Sublett was only seven when he began singing on-stage. Later he teamed up with dancer Ford "Buck" Lee Washington to become Buck and Bubbles. The two danced together for four decades. Sublett also appeared on Broadway in shows such as Porgy and Bess and revues such as Frolics of 1922. He also performed with the Ziegfeld Follies in 1931 with Washington. The two also appeared in a couple of films including Cabin in the Sky (1943) and A Song Is Born (1948). Sublett helped to teach Fred Astaire and other stars how to tap dance. Following Buck's death in 1955, Bubbles did not perform again until the mid-'60s when he joined comedian Bob Hope on a tour of U.S.O. shows. He then worked as the opening act for Judy Garland's Judy at the Palace. Sublett also appeared on several talk and variety shows. After suffering a debilitating stroke around 1967, Sublett retired from performing. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
John William Sublett
Date of birth (location)
19 February 1902
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Date of death (details)
18 May 1986
Los Angeles, California, USA. (cerebral hemorrhage)
Trivia
Singer, clown and rhythmic tap dancer (show more)
Sometimes Credited As:
Buck & Bubbles
Buck and Bubbles
John Bubbles
Bubbles
John 'Bubbles' Sublett
John W. Sublett
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Actor - filmography
(1940s) (1930s) (1920s)
1. Song Is Born, A (1948) (uncredited) .... Bubbles
2. Mantan Messes Up (1946) .... Bubbles
3. Laff Jamboree (1945) .... Bubbles
4. Cabin in the Sky (1943) (as John W. Sublett) .... Domino Johnson
5. Calling All Stars (1937) .... Bubbles of 'Buck and Bubbles'
6. Varsity Show (1937) (as Bubbles) .... Bubbles
7. Foul Play (1930) .... Bubbles
8. Honest Crooks (1930) .... Bubbles
9. In and Out (1930) .... Bubbles
10. Dark Town Follies (1929) .... Bubbles
... aka Darktown Follies (1929)
11. High Toned (1929) .... Bubbles
... aka High Tones (1929)
12. On with the Show! (1929) (uncredited) .... Dancer, Birmingham Bertha Number
13. Don't Fall (1924) .... Black Child (boy)
14. Speed Boys (1924) .... A black child
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Himself - filmography
(1970s) (1960s) (1950s) (1940s) (1930s)
1. No Maps on My Taps (1979) .... Himself
2. Belle of 14th Street, The (1967) (TV) .... Himself
3. Solang' es hübsche Mädchen gibt (1955) (as John Bubbles) .... Himself
... aka Beautiful Girls (1958) (USA)
4. Atlantic City (1944) (as Buck and Bubbles) .... Himself
5. I Dood It (1943) (as Buck and Bubbles) .... Himself
... aka By Hook or by Crook (1943) (UK)
6. Variety (1936) (TV) (as Buck and Bubbles) .... Himself
7. Nite in a Nite Club, A (1934) (as Buck & Bubbles) .... Himself, Dancer
... aka Mentone Brevity: A Nite in a Nite Club (1934) (USA: series title)
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Notable TV Guest Appearances
1. "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The" (1962) playing "Himself" (as John Bubbles) 31 December 1967
2. "Lucy Show, The" (1962) playing "Himself" (as John Bubbles) in episode: "Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map" (episode # 5.18) 30 January 1967
3. "Lucy Show, The" (1962) playing "Himself" (as John Bubbles) in episode: "Main Street U.S.A." (episode # 5.17) 23 January 1967
4. "Mickie Finn's" (1966) playing "Himself" (as John Bubbles) (episode # 1.7) 2 June 1966
5. "DuPont Show of the Week, The" (1961) playing "Himself" (as John Bubbles) in episode: "America's Music - Music of the Thirties" (episode # 1.8) 5 November 1961
Name: Buck and Bubbles
Years Active: 1937-1948
Decades Active:
Filmography
Poster Search
1948 A Song is Born
Actor
1944 Atlantic City
Actor
1937 Varsity Show
Actor Themselves
LISTS:
http://www.musicweb.uk.net/encyclopaedia/b/B297.HTM
http://www.streetswing.com/histmai2/d2bucbu1.htm
http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1711/Buck_Washington_dancer_extraordinaire