“Tap” is a tribute to Broadway legend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was born Luther Robinson in Richmond, Virginia, on May 25, 1878. Robinson started his career as a vaudeville performer, transitioning to Broadway and to Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. He pioneered a new form of tap, shifting from a flat-footed style to a light, swinging style that focused on elegant footwork. His delicate tap-dance style and cheerful demeanor made Robinson a favorite of both black and white audiences. He died in New York City on November 25, 1949. Robinson's fame withstood the decline of African-American revues. He starred in 14 Hollywood motion pictures, many of them musicals, and played multiple roles opposite the child star Shirley Temple. His film credits include Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, The Little Colonel and Stormy Weather, co-starring Lena Horne and Cab Calloway. Robinson celebrated his 61st birthday publicly by dancing down 61 blocks of Broadway.