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|
Stage Name |
Birth Name |
| Paul
Draper |
Paul
Edward Draper Jr. |
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Draper laid claim to 'having been the 'worst Tap dancer in History'
(Having as in past tense). Draper was originally a ditch-digger,
then went to college and worked for Arthur
Murray, while at Murray's he was fired and re-hired and fired
again. Moving on he took Tap
from Tommy Nip, learned the 'Time Step' and thus started his career.
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Draper made his solo debut at a London vaudeville theater in 1932
and is credited with his innovation called Ballet-Tap, (a mixture
of tap and Ballet). Draper would use many different music
styles from Classical to Blues in his routines. Draper became
so good he had a flash dance routine that would be done on a pedestal-table.
He would be known as the 'One Man Flash Act'. Would occasionally
perform with Harmonica player Larry Adler on tour.
Because
Draper used Classical music in his acts, the rhythm was not very
Swingy thus it was pretty much a flop. However he does get some
credit at being innovative. The dancing on Drpaers part was not
really bad, just the music didn't make it, however it might have
taken off, it just didn't.
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His father (Sr.) was a talented concert singer and his aunt Muriel
a noted author and lecturer. Married Helen Vosseler who was a
solist of the American Ballet Theater. Draper has appeared in
concerts, ballets, nightclubs, vaudeville and movies, in the Europe,
U.S. and South America. Draper was also Black listed for a time
by the House Un-American Activities Commission for some reason.
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