"Mr. Bojangles"

Mr. Bojangles" is a popular song, written and initially recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1968 and covered since by many other artists. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band took the song to #9 on the Billboard pop chart in 1971.

It was about an obscure alcoholic but talented tap dancing drifter (not the famous stage and movie dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, as sometimes assumed). Bojangles is thought to have been a folk character who entertained informally in the south of the US and California, and some say he might have been one of the most gifted natural dancers ever. His actual name is not recorded. Authentic reports of him exist from the 1920s through about 1965.

According to the lyrics by Jerry Jeff Walker, he met Bojangles in a prison cell in New Orleans (the first precinct jail to be exact). The two began to converse about life. Bojangles began to dance as Walker admired his skill.

Walker has said that the character was based on Babe Stovall, a guitar player and singer who worked in New Orleans in the late sixties
Source(s):
wikipedia.com
3 years ago

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[ekajeht]

THIS ISN'T Jim Croce

[sandyzk1]

@ekajeht

It's not.  Apologies.

[delron44]

this is better then jim croce

[delron44]

super version anyway

[purplepimpernel]

Bill "Bo Jangles" Robinson was hardly an obscure dancer. Well the one movie that comes to mind is I believe "the little confederate" with Shirley Temple & dances with Bo Jangles.

[cbesco2]

IT IS JIM CROCE...... I have been a Jim Croce Fan since the 70's, this is the best version

[cbesco2]

IT IS JIM CROCE......



[THEbadGENO]

@sandyzk1 Who the hell is this then? I've been trying to find out for years

[MrMonroman]

@zartan123456789 Yes I think you're right

[MrMonroman]

@zartan123456789 yes this is the nitty gritty arrangement but who is singing?

[bluebe11a]

This is the best version THANK YOU Sandyzk1

[poizen19]

Right, The character was based upon a homeless man who called him "Mr Bojangles" to avoid detection by police, he was in a cell with Jerry Jeff Walker when Jerry got arrested for drunk and disorderly and all of the men in the cell were telling stories to cheer each other, then Bojangles told the story of his dog and how he died and all the men got bummed out so Bojangles tap-danced in the cell to lighten the mood

Don't believe me? That story came directly from Jerry Jeff Walkers own book