For Henry Belcher, learning to tap dance was a matter of osmosis. After a friend taught him the basics, he picked up steps from dancers at shows -- and on the streets where he earned money for "hoofing."
Belcher joined with two friends to become the Six Sensational Sizzling Shoes and performed for years. Even at 91-years-old, he still dances, as he did recently at a senior citizens' home in Pittsburgh.
In the end, Belcher didn't rise to fame, or make a million dollars. "But I had a million dollars' worth of experience," he says.
Also in the StoryCorps series
StoryCorps MVI: Robert Stokely
(02:23)
From: StoryCorps
Robert Stokely remembers honoring his son, Army Sgt. Michael Stokely, who was killed in Iraq in 2005.
StoryCorps: Adrian Hawkins and Horace Atwater Jr.
(02:00)
From: StoryCorps
Adrian Hawkins talks to his foster father, Horace Atwater Jr.
StoryCorps: Shengqiao Chen and Zehao Zhou
(02:11)
From: StoryCorps
Shengqiao Chen (L) tells his friend Zehao Zhou (R) about being smuggled to the U.S. aboard the Golden Venture in 1993.
StoryCorps MVI: Travis Williams
(03:14)
From: StoryCorps
Iraq war Veteran Travis Williams, sole survivor of his 12-man squad, remembers the explosion that took his 11 teammates.
StoryCorps: Sally Edwards and Lue Hutchinson
(02:13)
From: StoryCorps
Sally Edwards (L) and Lue Hutchinson (R) remember becoming friends after they both lost sons in the Gulf War.
StoryCorps: Herman and Sidney Blake
(02:20)
From: StoryCorps
Herman Blake and his brother Sidney remember their childhood during the 1940s
StoryCorps: Jack and Reagan Richmond
(02:54)
From: StoryCorps
Jack Richmond tells his daughter, Reagan, about being an amputee.
StoryCorps MVI: Daniel and Evelyn Hodd
(02:20)
From: StoryCorps
Staff Sergeant Daniel Hodd and his mother, Evelyn, talk about Daniel's decision to put aside a promising career as a pianist in order to join the Marine Corps.
StoryCorps Historias: Ruben Aguilar and Bill Luna
(02:01)
From: StoryCorps
Ruben Aguilar tells his friend Bill Luna about his family's deportation as part of the Mexican Repatriation Program in 1933.
StoryCorps: Dawn Maestas
(04:00)
From: StoryCorps
Dawn Maestas, who removes tattoos for survivors of domestic violence, talks to a client about her work.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
For Henry Belcher, learning to tap dance was a matter of osmosis. After a friend taught him the basics, he picked up steps from dancers at shows -- and on the streets where he earned money for "hoofing." Belcher joined with two friends to become the Six Sensational Sizzling Shoes and performed for years. Even at 91-years-old, he still dances, as he did recently at a senior citizens' home in Pittsburgh. In the end, Belcher didn't rise to fame, or make a million dollars. "But I had a million dollars' worth of experience," he says.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition 8/4/06
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Time now for StoryCorps Griot.
Each Tuesday we bring you a story from this project that's recording black American's across the country.
Henry Belcher and Major A. Mason the III are two friends who came to StoryCorps to talk about Henry's tap dancing days. He stared performing as a teen in Pittsburgh in the 1930's.
Ninety-two-year-old Henry Belcher with his friend, Major A. Mason III. They were both at the StoryCorps booth in Pittsburgh. Henry used to dance to this Dizzie Gillespie tune, "Sunny Side Of The Street."
The next stop on the StoryCorps Griot tour is Oakland. All the Griot initiative recordings are archived at the Library Of Congress. A copy of each interview will also be sent to the National Museum Of African American History And Culture in Washington D.C.
Related Website
Of 2 purchasers of this piece...
- 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
StoryCorps: Billy Collins (01:30) - 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
StoryCorps: Debbie Fisher (02:32) - 2 also bought:
