Buck Washington

Ford Lee "Buck" Washington (October 16, 1903 – January 31, 1955) was an American vaudeville performer, pianist, and singer. He was best known as half of the duo Buck and Bubbles, who were the first black artists to appear on television, with John W. Bubbles, his performance partner for 40 years.[1]

Buck Washington
Born
Ford Lee Washington

(1903-10-16)October 16, 1903
Louisville, Kentucky
DiedJanuary 31, 1955(1955-01-31) (aged 51)
New York City, U.S.
Years active1910s–1954
Known forHalf of Buck and Bubbles duo
Spouse(s)
Flash Amber Vincson
​
​
(m. 1927⁠–⁠1955)​

Career

Washington was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He and Bubbles (born John W. Sublett) first began working together in the 1910s, while Washington was in his teens. Their duo was known as "Buck and Bubbles." Bubbles was primarily a tap dancer while Washington sang and played stride piano and sang.[2] They were so popular that the duo moved to Manhattan, New York City in September 1919. By the late 1920s they were on Broadway. They played together in the Columbia Theater, the Palace, performing with Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, and Danny Kaye.[3] They were on the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931.[4] They also became the first black artists to perform at the Radio City Music Hall. They toured Europe in the 1930s and appeared on television and in films, including Calling All Stars (1937) and Cabin in the Sky (1942). The Buck and Bubbles act was represented by Nat Nazarro.[5] "Buck and Bubbles" performed live in the first scheduled 'high definition' (240-line) television program on November 2, 1936 at Alexandra Palace, London, for the BBC, becoming the first black artists on television anywhere in the world.[3][2][6] In 1927, when Buck and Bubbles were performing at the Sunset Café, Buck developed a working relationship and friendship with Louis Armstrong.[7]

As a pianist, Washington also did sessions with jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong (1930), Bessie Smith (1933), and Coleman Hawkins (1934). He also played trumpet, though he only made home recordings on the instrument. He continued working with Bubbles until 1953, and in 1953-1954 worked with Timmie Rogers and Jonah Jones. He died in 1955 in New York City.[8]

Family

On August 23, 1927, in Chicago, Washington married Flash Amber Vincson (1902–1975). One of her younger sisters, Bobbie Vincent (née Bobbye Vincson; 1906–1978), was a singer and dancer who performed in the 1925 production of Chocolate Kiddies during its inaugural European tour.

References
  1. "Buck Washington," entry by Howard Henry Rye, EdD, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, (this edition is in one Vol.), Barry Kernfeld (ed.). Saint Martin's Press (re-print 1994), pps. 1264–1265; OCLC 611333148, ISBN 0-3336-3231-1, ISBN 0-3121-1357-9, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J473300
    Rye's sources:
    1. "Mr. Washington of Buck & Bubbles," by Leonard Feather, Melody Maker, No. 12, October 14, 1936, p. 2
    2. "Ford Lee 'Buck' Washington," by Mezz Mezzrow, Bulletin du Hot Club de France, No. 48, 1955, p. 3
    3. Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance, Marshall Stearns and Jean Stearns (1994 ed.), p. 213; also pps. 151, 157, 192, 217, 218, 246
      1. Collier-Macmillan (1968); OCLC 655466715
      2. Macmillan (1971); OCLC 900269
      3. Schirmer (1979); OCLC 720681903, 1069868504; ISBN 978-0-0287-2510-9
      4. Da Capo Press (paperback) (1994); OCLC 610972997; ISBN 978-0-3068-0553-0
    4. "Visiting Firemen: 10" (article), by Howard Henry Rye, "Buck Washington (Buck & Bubbles)" (article section), Storyville, No. 114, August–September 1984, pps. 211–217 (accessible via National Jazz Archive at link)
  2. John M. Murphy and David Day (2015). "John W. Bubbles papers: Creator Info". Prepared for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Provo, UT. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  3. "John Bubbles, The Dancer, Is Dead at 84". The New York Times. May 20, 1986.
  4. Wintz, Cary D.; Finkelman, Paul (2004). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance: A-J. Taylor & Francis. pp. 199–200. ISBN 9781579584573.
  5. "Buck and Bubbles Center of Suit," New York Age, Vol 63, No. 17, September 21, 1948, p. 6 (accessible via Newspapers.com; subscription required)
  6. "Television Begins". BBC. November 2, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  7. Brothers, Thomas (2014). Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. p. 265. ISBN 978-0-393-06582-4.
  8. The Vaudevillians: A Dictionary of Vaudeville Performers, "Buck and Bubbles," by Anthony Slide, Arlington House Publishers (1981), p. 18; OCLC 7460932, ISBN 978-0-8700-0492-6
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