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353:, on which he appeared as a regular from 1964 until 1982. Introduced by Welk, the dancer was said to be "a credit to his race and to the entertainment profession." In fact, Duncan was the first Black person to be a regular on a variety show. The weight of this, as well as the weight of being the only Black man on the show, led to him pre-recording his tap dancing, saying he "didn't take chances."
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Due to his long-lasting and outstanding tap dancing career, Duncan has earned many awards and much recognition. In 2003, Duncan was featured on the Jerry Lewis
Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, where he represented "the eldest of three generations of tap". The number danced was choreographed
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In 2008, he was presented with an honorary Doctor of
Performing Arts in American Dance degree also from Oklahoma City University. Some years later, the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Lastly, he was inducted in the International Tap
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A year later, in 2004, he won the Flo-Bert
Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York City Tap Extravaganza. He then received the Living Treasure in American Dance Award in 2005 from Oklahoma City University. In 2006, he was honored at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival for his "lifetime
467:, on January 4, 2023, at the age of 97. Upon his death, it was revealed that Duncan was in fact born in 1925. Most biographies during his lifetime had used the birth year of 1933, a mistake which he never corrected, since "he never wanted to discuss anything personal," according to his wife.
176:. Duncan claimed that Castle had a bigger influence on him and his musicality. While Duncan could be counted on for a consistent solid rhythm and big finish, he rarely repeated himself and "was not a relaxed dancer." In fact, "his forearms tended to swing stiffly from the elbow."
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Duncan also kicked off the opening of the new
Richmond office of Home Savings and Loan Association on May 3, 1979, in California. Duncan appeared alongside seven others of "TV’s greatest entertainers" in a "salute to the 'golden days of television.'" The seven others consisted of
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Little is known about Duncan's personal life, but at one point in his life, Duncan served in the army as an army private, while one of his brothers, Wilbur, was in the navy. The two seemed close to their father James Duncan and one of their sisters, Savaletta D. Gordon.
788:
Constance Valis Hill, “Arthur Duncan ,” Tap Dance in
America: A Twentieth-Century Chronology of Tap Performance on Stage, Film, and Media, Library of Congress, accessed May 4, 2022, https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.music.tdabio.43/default.html.
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gave the art of tap "its most regular exposure in that era", which was a time in which tap was mostly dormant. It especially helped that he was featured weekly as a regular. Though he tapped alone for the most part, he danced with both
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In terms of expression, he aimed to "please old-timers." The stress of doing so caused the look on his face to be strained, "wavering between smarmy and scared, the smile of a man concerned about the pistol sticking into his back."
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South threatened a boycott if Duncan remained on the show. In a 2018 interview, White said that she refused to fire Duncan and gave him more airtime, recounting "I said, 'I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays. Live with it'."
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a musical parody that first opened on
Broadway in 1983 and won three Tony Awards. A year later, Duncan performed at San Francisco's Kimball's East, alongside Robert L. Reed. The event also featured
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on the show "Two on the Town." In 1988, he was featured in "An
Evening of Tap" at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Declared a "tap dancer's summit," the event's jazz tap performance included
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Duncan's career was not diminished in the turn of the century. In 2004, he danced at the second annual Los
Angeles Tap Festival. He continued to dance in the festival every year until 2008.
156:, one of thirteen children, Duncan entered show business at age thirteen, when he was a member of a dance quartet that performed at McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena. He later entered
842:
Constance Valis Hill, “Arthur Duncan ,” Tap Dance in
America: A Twentieth-Century Chronology of Tap Performance on Stage, Film, and Media, Library of Congress, accessed May 4, 2022,
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Duncan even starred in a musical on top of his many performances. In 1988, around March 10 through 13, he played Mr. Magix in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera's
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Kathie
Walling, “About Tap Dancer Arthur Duncan,” Tap Dancing Resources, accessed May 2, 2022, http://www.tapdancingresources.com/dancers/arthur-duncan/.
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where he revealed he was not aware of the controversy at the time of its occurrence. There, he credited White to his success and starting his career.
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451:. Underwood said Duncan was her inspiration for tap dancing. Duncan gave Underwood flowers to celebrate her return to tap dancing.
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Lawrence Welk Show Fans, “Arthur Duncan - Tap Dancer - Appreciated by Lawrence Welk,” Youtube, October 8, 2017, video, 2:50,
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Lawrence Welk Show Fans, “Arthur Duncan - Tap Dancer - Appreciated by Lawrence Welk,” Youtube, October 8, 2017, video, 2:50,
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In the 1980s, Duncan danced at multiple venues alongside other famous tap dancers. On May 13, 1982, he appeared with the
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511:“About the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame: Biographies,” American Tap Dance Foundation, accessed April 27, 2022.
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LaMar, Lawrence F. "FAR WESTERN SOCIETY." The Chicago Defender (National edition) (1921–1967), Jul 22 1944, p. 8.
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featured Duncan in a cameo appearance with other famous tap dancers. He made more TV guest appearances on
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in 1967. This event took place in the Creole Lounge of the Hacienda International Hotel.
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In 2017, Duncan appeared on the series premiere episode of the reality talent series
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In 2006, Duncan was honored for his contributions to tap dance at the 15th Annual
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from 1964 to 1982. This, along with his earlier inclusion (despite objections) on
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240:'s personal manager Sam Lutz. He first appeared on the show as a guest in 1964.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvvyDEMk7xM&ab_channel=LawrenceWelkShowFans
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Partipilo, Vic. "On Location." Oakland Post (1968-1981), Apr 24 1979, p. 14.
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https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.music.tdabio.43/default.html
191:'s show reached a national audience, television stations in the
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In 2004 Duncan was honored at the annual "Tap Extravaganza" in
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in 1954 and with the help of White herself, made him the first
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In 2018, Duncan had the opportunity to reunite with White on
663:"'Live with it': Betty White defied racist demands in 1954"
560:"Arthur Duncan, a pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97"
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contribution to the art of tap dance", earning a tribute.
690:“Betty White Insisted on Black Dancer for her 1950s Show”
970:"Arthur Duncan, pioneering Black tap dancer, dies at 97"
214:'s troupe touring U.S. military bases as a part of the
117:(September 25, 1925 – January 4, 2023) was an American
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and quickly became a regular performer. However, when
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528:"DANCE: THIS WEEK; All the Tap Dancers in New York"
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586:"Arthur Duncan, dancer on Welk show, will be here"
724:Mitchell, Yvonne D. "The Cosmopolitan Review."
709:"First Negro Joins Bob Hope GI Cheering Troupe"
347:Duncan is most famously known for his time on
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644:What the Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing
221:The tour entertained U.S. troops during the
830:(Oxford University Press, 2014), 299.
772:"Hoofers Club Appears on Popular TV show."
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19:For other people named Arthur Duncan, see
463:Duncan died of a stroke and pneumonia in
443:, who performed a tap dance routine with
828:Tap Dancing America: A Cultural History.
661:Brockell, Gillian (December 31, 2021).
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236:and with USO, Duncan was discovered by
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612:"Arthur Duncan [biography]"
592:. Columbus, Nebraska. July 23, 1965
439:as part of a surprise for co-host
183:In 1954, Duncan first appeared on
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912:Freeze, Kellie (June 14, 2017).
868:Holden, Stephen (July 6, 1988).
526:Seibert, Brian (May 30, 2004).
427:Little Big Shots: Forever Young
205:Little Big Shots: Forever Young
16:American tap dancer (1925–2023)
21:Arthur Duncan (disambiguation)
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1046:African-American male dancers
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1071:Pasadena City College alumni
801:(1962-), Sep 02 1989, p. 25.
776:(1934-), May 13, 1982, p. 1.
616:Performing Arts Encyclopedia
488:Dance Hall of Fame in 2020.
480:and received an Emmy Award.
243:Several years after joining
901:– via memory.loc.gov.
695:The Black Wall Street Times
216:United Service Organization
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814:(1934), Mar 10 1988, p. 1.
754:(1934), Mar 02 1967, p. 1.
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465:Moreno Valley, California
83:Moreno Valley, California
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799:New York Amsterdam News
726:New York Amsterdam News
642:Seibert, Brian (2015).
590:Columbus Daily Telegram
455:Personal life and death
210:In 1957, Duncan joined
447:as part of the show's
419:St. Louis Tap Festival
358:The Lawrence Welk Show
350:The Lawrence Welk Show
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1051:American male dancers
618:. Library of Congress
404:The Phil Donahue Show
158:Pasadena City College
115:Arthur Chester Duncan
1056:American tap dancers
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292:Howard Sandman Sims
160:to study pharmacy.
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533:The New York Times
232:After his time on
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715:Jan 9, 1958
622:February 2,
544:November 9,
373:Later years
343:(1964–1982)
327:Rusty Frank
304:Jimmy Slyde
249:Los Angeles
227:Vietnam War
189:Betty White
174:Nick Castle
99:entertainer
1030:Categories
918:TV Insider
492:References
399:Peter Falk
257:Dennis Day
148:Early life
119:tap dancer
95:Tap dancer
56:1925-09-25
367:Jack Imel
108:1946–2022
596:July 16,
538:Archived
436:The Talk
223:Cold War
212:Bob Hope
203:’s show
193:Jim Crow
152:Born in
937:YouTube
394:Columbo
139:variety
471:Awards
401:, and
329:, and
306:, and
271:, and
164:Career
85:, U.S.
66:, U.S.
397:with
387:with
1021:IMDb
984:2023
945:2018
883:2007
676:2021
624:2017
598:2013
572:2023
546:2007
365:and
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