In studio with DCD Hall of Fame inductee Joey Hollingsworth

 Joey Hollingsworth was born in 1936 and raised in London, Ontario. He started tap dancing at 3 1⁄2 years old. At 10 years old he danced backstage with Bill BoJangles Robinson and watched tap greats like Teddy Hale, and Peg Leg Bates.

Mastering steps, Joey was an early Black performer on Canadian National television. Joey danced in the era of big bands. He first appeared on CBC’s talent competition Pick the Stars, (1954), backed by the Samuel Hershenhorn Orchestra. Joey was directed by a young Norman Jewison in CBC Special Christmas with the Stars, 1956. He acted with Black opera singer Portia White on Playdate: In the Good Time, 1961. He appeared on such shows such as the Wayne and Schuster Hour (1960), the Billy O’Connor Show (1957), and Cross Canada Hit Parade (1958). Jack Arthur put him the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand Show (circa 1960) where he tapped and sang Humdrum Blues by Oscar Brown Jr. In 1962, he did the famed Ed Sullivan Show where he played conga drums and danced to Duke Ellington’s Caravan.

In the 1960s, Joey was active in civil rights performing in benefit shows for Martin Luther King Jr. and James Farmer of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) sharing the bill with greats like Phyliss Marshall, Oscar Peterson, Harry Belafonte, and Brock Peters. In the 1960s, Joey recorded tap on albums like At the Purple Onion with Lenny Breau . Later he recorded on David Clayton Thomas’ Clayton. Appearing as the first Black man, he played the Dancing Salesman on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood and later on Ernie Coomb’s Mr. Dressup.

Joey continued with television, tapping on the sketch comedy the George Kirby Comedy Hour (1972). In the 1970s, The Joey Hollingsworth Show, backed by various bands with people like Curley Bridges (organist), and played at night clubs from coast to coast. In 1984, Joey performed on Salome Bey’s television version of Indigo, a history of the blues that showcased Black music in America. Joey portrayed Bill Robinson and danced in scenes from James Henry to the Apollo. In the 1990’s, Joey tapped the Mikado in David Bell’s production of the Hot Mikado (Atlanta, Georgia, San Jose, California). Joey spent his life tap dancing. In 2018 Joey received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Black History Society, and this year Joey will be inducted into the Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame.