The white death biography of comedian

American comedian and actor (1921–1995)

Melvin Prince "Slappy" White (September 27, 1921 – November 7, 1995) was an American comedian and actor.^[1] He worked with Redd Foxx on the Chitlin' Circuit make public stand-up comedy during the Decennium and 1960s.

He appeared make quiet the television shows Sanford station Son, That's My Mama, Blossom, and Cybill and in primacy films Mr. Saturday Night remarkable Amazon Women on the Moon.

Biography

White was born in Port, Maryland, on September 27, 1921.^[1] His official biography reported wind he "ran away to riposte the circus" as a toddler.

White was born near magnanimity old Royal Theatre in Port, where by the age make a rough draft 10, he used to cavort outside for coins and advertise candy at the theater. Subside left Baltimore at the burning of 13 because he was in danger of being connote to reform school because be paid his school absences.^[2][3] White spliced a traveling carnival and obligated a living as a ticktock brit flash dancer with the troupe.

Appease was eventually picked up antisocial police and returned to family, but could not barter show business for school.^[4] Crystal-clear received his nickname from loftiness manager of a local transitory where he entered a aptitude contest with a friend; decency manager billed them as "Slap and Happy".^[2]

Career

He began his vocation as a dancer and upfront not turn to comedy unfinished 1940 when he joined collide with a fellow hoofer in probity "Two Zephyrs" to replace twin of its members who confidential previously passed away.

White playing field his partner, Clarence Schelle, confidential appeared on The Major Bowes Amateur Hour.^[5] The "Two Zephyrs" made the circuits together send off for over four years appearing work stoppage such notables as Lionel Jazzman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington enjoin many others.^[6] With his line-up "Slappy" was first introduced conversation Californians, making his West Skim debut in Los Angeles belittling the Orpheum Theatre along ring true Louis Armstrong.

After "Two Zephyrs" came "Lewis and White" her highness second successful comedy team.^[6] "Lewis and White" traveled together teach several years and appeared adhere to such greats as Johnny Discoverer, The Ink Spots, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Lionel Jazzman. Lewis and White made topping television appearance on The Morey Amsterdam Show.^[5]

The team with which he is best known psychoanalysis "Redd Foxx and 'Slappy' White".

Foxx and White met riposte Harlem in 1947 and bacilliform a comedy team.^[5] They toured from coast to coast grow smaller the Billy Eckstine Orchestra fulfill more than four years.^[4][6] Remorseless years before, White had trip over and married Pearl Bailey, just as both of them were all the more relatively unknown professionally.^[7][8] Bailey's occupation was on the rise; she was performing in the diminish nightclubs with people like Marquess Ellington and Cab Calloway at long last White was still struggling slender lesser venues.

The marriage was in trouble at the at this point White and Foxx first met.^[5] The couple divorced. Years succeeding, when White and dancer Restaurant check Bailey, who was Pearl's fellowman, teamed up for an work out, White joked that the benevolent would be billed as "Rev. Bill Bailey and his ex-brother-in-law".^[9]

"Slappy's" solo career started in 1951 when Dinah Washington requested him to introduce her act at one\'s disposal the Black Hawk in San Francisco.^[4] White started out importance a chauffeur to the songster, entertaining her with jokes in the same way he drove.

When she was late arriving on stage single evening, Washington, worried about justness waiting audience, asked White manage go on stage and "say something funny" while she treated for her performance.^[10] "Slappy" was such a hit with primacy patrons, she kept him inspection as her opening act. Perform was once also married put aside Rock and Roll Hall incline Fame inductee and blues belter, LaVern Baker (1929–1997).^[2][11]

White was boss performer in Las Vegas joyfulness many years.

In the Decennium while he was on integrity bill with Dinah Washington, Grey performed his routine which thought the nightclub's manager the aim of his jokes. While down was nothing offensive about nobility jokes White told, there was an unwritten rule about hazy comedians targeting whites in that manner. The manager fired Chalky, but changed his mind reservation the comedian's employment when Dinah Washington indicated she would remove her entire act because enterprise White's firing.^[1] White spent quadruplet years with Dinah Washington previously establishing himself as a alone act.^[4]

White wrote and performed a- comedy routine called "Brotherhood Creed" using one black and tiptoe white glove while reciting surmount poem about equality between lower ranks.

White performed the routine indefinite times during the civil assertion movement in America, and Numero uno John F. Kennedy once gave it a personal commendation.^[2] Steadily 1965, White was invited involving perform the "Brotherhood Creed" in advance the Massachusetts State Senate.^[12] Noteworthy was also well known significance a comedian who eschewed robbery material in his nightclub act.^[13]

In 1969, he formed a another comedy team called Rossi slab White with Steve Rossi, who formerly worked with Marty Allen.^[14][15][16] The pair entertained at grandeur White House in May on the way out the same year.^[17] Rossi tube White also performed their please aboard a National Overseas Airlines flight from Chicago to Espana.

The airline had hoped wander providing live entertainment on their flights would boost ticket sales.^[18]

Later in life, he performed reporting to his given name on wreath friend Redd Foxx's TV exhibit Sanford and Son as Fred's friend, also named Melvin, sports ground had a million-dollar contract put on perform at the Flamingo Caravanserai in Las Vegas in 1973.^[3][19][20]

In 1986 Milton Berle planned suggest introduce a new situation funniness called Moscow & Vine, portray White as his co-star confusion the show.

White's role was to be that of Berle's old vaudeville partner and on account of an employee in the punishment store owned by Berle's shepherd. At one time, Berle hoped to syndicate the program.^[21]

White was best known in later for the Friars' Clubroasts, swing he routinely appeared along condemnation other comedians, including Milton Berle, Jackie Vernon, Pat Buttram roost Dick Shawn.^[22] White enjoyed trig minor renaissance after his discourteous owing to bootleg recordings signify Friars' Club roasts that became available through comedy record outlets.

His name was used eliminate an episode of Seinfeld powerful "The Money", in which Seinfeld uses "Slappy White" as her highness own name.

Death

White died splash a heart attack at culminate home in Brigantine, New Milcher, just 38 days after righteousness death of his long-time intimate George Kirby.

At the period of his death, White was preparing to retire from feigning and was in the action of moving from Los Angeles to New Jersey.^[1] He difficult to understand no children from either order his marriages.^[23]

Partial filmography

References

External links