Leroy Daniels

Leroy Daniels was a shoeshine man who sang and danced as he worked, and whose act led to an appearance with Fred Astaire in the 1953 musical The Band Wagon.[1] It was the only time that Astaire danced on-screen with a black dancer.[2]

Daniels' act also served as inspiration for the choreography of the scene in the film.[3]

His performances became the inspiration for the song, Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy, which in 1950 became a #1 hit for Country music singer Red Foley.[4]

Daniels subsequently made other screen appearances, including Handle With Care (1964), Petey Wheatstraw (1977), Disco Godfather (1979), and Avenging Angel (1985). He also appeared in the TV series Sanford and Son.

References
  1. Knowles, Mark (2013). The Man Who Made the Jailhouse Rock – Alex Romero, Hollywood Choreographer. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. pp. 83, 182, 183. ISBN 9781476603681.
  2. Baldwin, Kate (2015). The Racial Imaginary of the Cold War Kitchen: From Sokol'niki Park to Chicago's South Side. Dartmouth College Press. p. 225. ISBN 9781611688641.
  3. Ebert, Roger. "The Band Wagon movie review & film summary (1953) | Roger Ebert". Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  4. Zimmers, Tighe (2021). That's Entertainment: A Biography of Broadway Composer Arthur Schwartz. McFarland Incorporated. p. 247. ISBN 9781476678818.
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