Knockin' On Wood: The Peg Leg Bates Story

This inspiring biography of Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates, who lost his left leg in a cottonseed mill accident in 1919 at the age of 12, chronicles the man's amazing life from his days as the son of a sharecropper in South Carolina to his rise to fame as a tap dancer. His special step, the American Jet Plane, in which he "tapped across the stage, leaped five feet into the air, and landed on his peg leg with the other leg straight out" won over black and white audiences alike. Still, he was never allowed to eat or sleep in the same restaurants and hotels enjoyed by white vaudeville performers. Adapted for Brooklyn Blowback by David Kay, MLS. Music by Tom Siler.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Peg
• Leg
• Bates
• African
• American
• tap
• dancer
• with
• one
• leg

[MrNero431]

Thanks so much for posting.  Clayton went through so much in his lifetime, and he never quit! Very inspiring man, just like Carl Brashear the First African American Man who after losing his leg became the only Master Chief Diver for the US Navy.

[bourne419]

When I was a kid my family went to his resort in New York, and I saw him perform live. I thought: "A one-legged dancer?" I didn't know what to expect. He came onstage in a tuxedo, and danced, spinned around, did spits and acrobatic flips. It was a breathtaking performance. When you look back on his life, the odds were against him in more ways than one, but he was determined to succeed. Peg Leg Bates was an extraordinary man, and I have fond memories of this amazing entertainer. 

[denzelsnipes69]

"You will not make a monkey out of my boy!"

[jcwsony12]

He was my God Father! Great man...

[MarimbaVirtuoso]

Thanks so much for posting! I was extremely annoyed by the music at first, but I guess I got used to it lol. Some of it actually fit pretty well!

[twobarbreak]

thanks for keep his name alive....=)

[rlgn1950]

Thank you so much for this "memory lane" video. When I was a child we lived not too far from his resort in Kerhonkson, NY

He is/was such an inspiration to all.

[thriftyturtle]

Just simply beautiful!

[NSantoro704]

dude awsome

[WayneGacyBumpusJr]

Get used to annoying background music....it wouldn't be Brookland Blowback TV otherwise