Henderson et al–The Black Botton background

It is now time to turn our attention to the George White Scandals of 1926 and the song and dance that came out of this show–“The Black Bottom.” In order to try to give some historical coloring to this show and its music, we think it is best if we look at music and dance that preceded it but used the term “Black Bottom” to describe the song.

According to Wikipedia, the dance originated in New Orleans in the first decade of the 20th century. The jazz pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, wrote the tune “Black Bottom Stomp”, its title referring to the Black Bottom area of Detroit.

However, the “Original Black Bottom Dance” was written by by Perry Bradford in 1919 and recorded by the Georgia Strutters in 1926, with Perry on the vocal.

Going back to Wikipedia, they recognize that the sheet music for the Bradford song “identifies the composers as Gus Horsley and Bradford and claims the dance was introduced by the African-American dancer and choreographer Billy Pierce. The sheet music’s cover photograph features dancer Stella Doyle, who performed primarily in cabarets.

“The black bottom was well known among semirural blacks across the South. A similar dance with many variations was commonly performed in tent shows, and ‘Bradford and Jeanette’ had used it as a finale.

“The dance was featured in the Harlem show Dinah in 1924 and was then performed by Ann Pennington and Tom Patricola in the musical comedy revue George White’s Scandals of 1926 on Broadway, whereupon it became a national craze. The black bottom overtook the Charleston in popularity and eventually became the number one social dance. Some dance critics noted that by the time it became a fad in American society in the mid-20s, it resembled the Charleston. Both dances can be performed solo or as a couple and feature exuberant moves.

“The African-American choreographer Billy Pierce, who is credited on “Black Bottom Dance” sheet music with having introduced the dance, was an associate with the African-American choreographer Buddy Bradley. Working out of Pierce’s dance studio in New York City, Bradley devised dance routines for Tom Pericola and other Broadway performers.”

Ah, but what dance was it that swept the nation? We will come back later and try to answer that question. But first, we would like to give you an idea of the two songs that preceded Ray Henderson’s 1926 “The Black Bottom.” The first version is the “Original Black Bottom Dance” written by by Perry Bradford in 1919 and recorded by the Georgia Strutters in 1926, with Perry on the vocal.