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Interview with Jimmy Slyde / Jimmy (Godbolt) Slyde [sound recording]

Title

Interview with Jimmy Slyde [Sound Recording]

Performers

Slyde, Jimmy (Godbolt)

Brown, Stanley

Ford, Eddy Schoolboy

Copasetics

Mitchell, Jimmy

Published/Created

1996-08-02

Genre

Sound Recording

Abstract

Interviewed by Sally Somer, August 2, 1996 at the Westside Crockton Library, Brockton, MA
Cassette 1 (90 mins) - Mr. Slyde discusses his family; his first exposure to dance through teacher Stanley Brown; the profound influence Brown had on him including meeting great tap artists at his studio; Eddy Schoolboy Ford; the art of sliding; becoming serious about dancing; his style and its association with jazz musical styles of the same period; the connection between learning music and learning dance; swing and bebop; his act with Jimmy Mitchell; first experiences on the road; racism; Afro-Caribbean influences on dance in Miami; experimenting in various dance and musical styles; working in different parts of the country; dancers during this period; traveling to California; poverty; and Hollywood and the limited performing opportunities for tap.
Cassette 2 (75 mins) - Mr. Slyde describes his life on the West Coast; the language of bebop; coming back east in the mid-1960s and participating in Tap Happening; going to Europe as part of the Harlem Uptown All-Star Dancers; the film "Adventure du Jazz;" his career taking off; living in Paris; teaching in Paris; recording an album; returning to the United States; the Copasetics; and his work creating performing opportunities for young dancers.

Source

New York Public Library: CATNYP: Dance Collection: Tap Dancing. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Gregory Hines Collection of American Tap Dance ().

Last Updated: 12-16-2015