With the passing of Nipsey Russell, the jolly fellow who played the Tin Man in The Wiz, we may be reaching the end of an era. He was 80 when he succumbed to cancer in a hospital in New York early last month. He was a beacon, an inspiration, and a legendary father to several generations of comics.
Russell began his career as a nightclub performer in the 1950s in Harlem’s Club Baby Grand, but his big break came in the role of Officer Anderson in the 1961 television comedy series Car 54, Where are You? He later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Tonight Show, The Dean Martin Show, and Laugh-In. Nipsey was the first black man to be featured on a game show and was a frequent guest on The Match Game, To Tell The Truth, The $10,000 Pyramid and Hollywood Squares.
Russell was the last of a dying breed of black humorists who dominated comedy from the 1940s through the 1970s – those who played the chitlin’ circuit, such as Redd Foxx, Slappy White, Moms Mabley, Pigmeat Markham, Dick Gregory, Butterbeans and Suzie, (Aunt Esther) Lawanda Page, Baby Seals, Skillet & Leroy. They entertained us through their standup routines in nightclubs and in theaters, and on party records that were kept in closets and other secret places, saying all those mischievous things you weren’t supposed to say in public.
Redd Foxx was the original King of Comedy, who broke new ground while performing as a comedian, actor and singer in black theaters and nightclubs. He was born John Elroy Sanford on December 9, 1922 in St. Louis. From 1951-1955 he teamed with Slappy White.
Redd Foxx produced over 50 comedic albums for Los Angeles-based Dooto Records, although he is probably best known for his television show Sanford and Son. He died Oct. 11, 1991.
Dewey “Pigmeat” Markham was from Durham, North Carolina. He began his career in 1917, dancing in shows and traveling the Houthern chitlin’ circuit with blues singer Bessie Smith. Later he appeared on burlesque bills with Milton Berle, Red Buttons and Eddie Cantor. By the ‘50s, Markham was one of Black America’s most popular entertainers through his shows, particularly at New York’s famed Apollo Theater. He died on December 13, 1981.
Jackie “Moms” Mabley was born Loretta Mary Aiken in 1894. She changed her name after her brother was embarrassed to have a sister in show business. The name Jackie Mabley came from her first boyfriend; she said he took so much from her that the least she could do was take his name. Moms passed in 1975.
Slappy White was born Melvin White in Baltimore, Maryland. One of White’s trademarks was the wearing of a white and a black glove on either hand to symbolize the need for racial harmony. He later became the emcee for Dinah Washington, where he joked mostly about the family and the Civil Rights Movement. He died Nov. 7, 1995.
Theirs was a specialized brand of humor. They were at the core of what black people called funny and set a standard of magnificence that was slightly foreign to white audiences and paved the way for everyone from Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor to Rudy Ray Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or by e-mail at berhay@swbell.net.
Carol Daniel is on vacation.
