

The basics
Quick facts
Intro
American dancer
Gender:
Male
Places:
Is:
Work field:
Birth:
8 December 1912
Death:
12 December 1978
The details
Biography
Bill Bailey (December 8, 1912 – December 12, 1978) was an African-American tap dancer. He was the brother of Pearl Bailey. Bill was the first person to be recorded doing the Moonwalk, although he referred to it as the "Backslide", in the film Cabin in the Sky (1943), starring Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and Lena Horne. He was trained briefly by Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. He was married to Pernell Bailey, and had nine children and many grandchildren.