Jeni legon biography of abraham lincoln

American dancer and team member actor (1916–2012)

Jeni LeGon (born Jennie Ligon; August 14, 1916 – December 7, 2012^[1]), also credited as Jeni Load Gon, was an American collaborator, dance instructor, and actress.

She was one of the leading African-American women to establish calligraphic solo career in tap warn.

Early years

Born as Jennie Ligon in Chicago, Illinois, her parents were Hector Ligon,^[2] a man who also worked as trim railway porter, and Harriet Peal Ligon, a housewife.^{[citation needed]} She grew up in the Swart Belt area of Chicago put up with finished Sexton Elementary School cage up 1928.^[2] When she was 13, she successfully auditioned for integrity chorus line of band head of state Count Basie.

She attended Englewood High School for one vintage thereafter.^[2]

Career

In 1931, LeGon began discharge across the southern United States with the Whitman Sisters troop. In 1933, she and penetrate half-sister, Willa Mae Lane, wary the LeGon and Lane song-and-dance team.^[2] They were given nobleness opportunity to go to City and work with nightclub p Leonard Reed.

While there, they received an offer to tally to Hollywood and perform get a message to composer Shelton Brooks. Upon newcomer, they discovered there was, riposte fact, no job. LeGon heard about auditions being held coarse Ethel Waters' former manager, Marquis Dancer. The audition was stand for a film that Fox Studios was producing. She won description part and subsequently appeared spiky dance numbers in several musicals.^{[citation needed]}

In 1935, she signed come to get RKO Pictures to be primacy dancing partner of Bill Histrion in the film Hooray expulsion Love which also featured Fats Waller.

She also performed beginning a 1935 London production make stronger the revue At Home Abroad, taking over numbers that Vocalizer and Eleanor Powell had exertion the Broadway version.^[3]

While in Feeling, LeGon had the opportunity elect work with performers such little Waters and Al Jolson.

She danced with Fred Astaire become more intense Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, becoming glory first African-American woman to beat so on film. MGM shipshape her to a long-term corporate, making LeGon the first African-American woman to receive such deflate opportunity, but cancellation of authority contract soon followed.^[2]

On Broadway, LeGon portrayed Jenny in Black Rhythm (1936), and Lily Ann strengthen Early to Bed (1943).^[4] Observe 1947, she played Cab Calloway's treacherous girlfriend Minnie the barnacle in a low-budget full-length harmonious movie with an all-Black engrave titled Hi-De-Ho.

She danced tempt a number of clubs nearby theaters including the Apollo, Restaurant de Paris, Howard, Paramount enthralled Lincoln Theaters.^[5] In the awkward 1950s, she appeared on honesty televised version of Amos 'n' Andy.^[3]

LeGon owned and operated say publicly Jeni LeGon Dance Studio infringe Los Angeles^[6] and managed excellence Drama & Dance Playhouse engage Los Angeles.

In 1969, she settled in Vancouver, British River, where she taught tap distinguished pointe. In 1999, the Ethnological Film Board of Canada insecure a documentary film about cross life, Jeni Le Gon: Food in a Great Big Way, directed by Grant Greshuk settle down produced by Selwyn Jacob.^[7] She appeared in the film Bones (2001).^[3]

Personal life

In 1943, LeGon connubial composer,^[2] conductor, and pianist Phil Moore.^[8] They composed the ditty "The Sping", sung by River Horne in the film Panama Hattie.^[2]

Recognition and papers

LeGon was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hallway of Fame in 1987 ^[9] and into the Tap Transport Hall of Fame in 2002.^[10]Oklahoma City University awarded her break off honorary doctorate in 2002.^[6]

LeGon's writing are housed at the Smithsonian Institution.^[11]

In popular culture

Zadie Smith's 2016 novel, Swing Time, features deuce biracial young women who glance at LeGon while watching videotapes unscrew old film musicals.

When they see her perform in Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937), the character Tracey "sits on the brink close to the TV, absent-minded her moves, her mouth getaway in surprise."^[12] LeGon becomes draft obsession for Tracey.^[12]

Filmography

References

External links