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Mr. Bojangles (song)
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Wikipedia article
wrote "Mr. Bojangles" and recorded the song for his 1968 album of the same name.
"'Mr. Bojangles'" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title.
Composition
Walker said he was inspired to write the song after an encounter with a street performer in a New Orleans jail. While in jail for public intoxication in 1965, he met a homeless man who called himself "Mr. Bojangles" to conceal his true identity from the police. Mr. Bojangles had been arrested as part of a police sweep of indigent people that was carried out following a high-profile murder. The two men and others in the cell chatted about all manner of things, but when Mr. Bojangles told a story about his dog, the mood in the room turned heavy. Someone else in the cell asked for something to lighten the mood, and Mr. Bojangles obliged with a tap dance.'The Man Who Was Bojangles'. BBC Radio 4. 11.30, August 23, 2008 The homeless "Mr. Bojangles", who was white, had taken his pseudonym from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (18781949), a Black entertainer.;
Notable recordings
The song was first recorded by popular Austin performer Allen Wayne Damron during a live performance at the Chequered Flag folk club in Austin in 1967.[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdaam The Handbook of Texas: Damron, Allen Wayne] Linked 2016-09-16 Jerry Jeff Walker recorded his single version (with Bobby Woods, Charlie Freeman, Sandy Rhodes, Tommy McClure, Sammy Creason, and a string orchestra) in Memphis, Tennessee on June 7, 1968, and it was released by Atco Records on June 20. He also recorded a non-string version in New York City for his album 'Mr. Bojangles' with David Bromberg, Gary Illingworth, Danny Milhon, Bobby Cranshaw, Jody Stecher, Donny Brooks, Ron Carter, Bill LaVorgna, and Jerry Jemmott. It was released by Atco on September 25, 1968. Other versions including those by Frankie Laine and Harry Belafonte were also recorded.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Since then, it has been recorded by many other artists, including US country rock band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, whose version (recorded for the 1970 album 'Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy') was issued as a single and rose to No. 9 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in 1971.The band's single version begins with the Uncle Charlie interview (subtitled "Prologue: Uncle Charlie and his Dog Teddy") that also precedes the song on the 'Uncle Charlie' album. It was originally backed with another interview with Uncle Charlie, also taken from the album. When "Mr. Bojangles" started climbing the charts, the B-side was re-pressed with the same song without the interview. NGDB guitarist Jeff Hanna performed most of the lead vocals on the track, with bandmate Jim Ibbotson performing harmony vocals; the two switched these roles on the last verse.[http://www.grammy.com/news/the-making-of-the-nitty-gritty-dirt-bands-mr-bojangles Hanna, Jeff (2013). "The Making of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 'Mr. Bojangles.' " 'Grammy.com' (December 27, 2013).] Retrieved 5-29-2016.
Live versions of the song appeared on Walker's 1977 album 'A Man Must Carry On', and his 1980 album 'The Best of Jerry Jeff Walker' and he sang it with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 2015 concert album entitled 'Circlin' Back'.
Sammy Davis Jr.
The song became one of Sammy Davis Jr.'s "long-loved" signature performances and one that he sang at president Richard Nixon's invitation at a concert at the White House in 1973. Study of the Davis version, as released on his "Greatest Hits, Live" album, has formed part of the "Music Studies" syllabus in the UK.Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan recorded a much loved version of the song for his 1973 studio album, 'Dylan'.Christian McBride Big Band
The song appeared on the 2017 album 'Bringin' It' by jazz bassist Christian McBride. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.Brendan Grace
The song was performed and recorded by Brendan Grace the Irish entertainer on Irelands Late Late Show in the late '70s. The version was later released and did quite well in the Irish and English charts. The song was reissued on Graces 2019 posthumous release, 'Airs & Graces', a 60-song collection of songs he recorded both in studio and live over his 50-year career.Chart history
Weekly charts
Jerry Jeff WalkerThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Year-end charts
Al Cherny
Nina Simone
References
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