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{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Timmie Rogers
| name = Timmie Rogers
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| birth_name = Timothy Louis Ancrum
| birth_name = Timothy Louis Ancrum
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|7|4|mf=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|7|4|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], Michigan, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|12|17|1915|7|4|mf=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|12|17|1915|7|4|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| nationality = American
| other_names = Timmie Rodgers
| other_names = Timmie Rodgers
| occupation = Comedian, singer-songwriter, bandleader, actor
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Comedian
* singer-songwriter
* bandleader
* actor}}
| years_active = 1927–1993
| years_active = 1927–1993
| known_for =
| known_for =
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His humor was clean, topical, and political. Rogers was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1993,<ref name="Revolutionary"/> and is often called the [[Jackie Robinson]] of comedy, because he opened the door for other performers such as [[Dick Gregory]] and [[Bill Cosby]].
His humor was clean, topical, and political. Rogers was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1993,<ref name="Revolutionary"/> and is often called the [[Jackie Robinson]] of comedy, because he opened the door for other performers such as [[Dick Gregory]] and [[Bill Cosby]].


As a singer, he often accompanied himself on a distinctive 10-stringed stringed instrument called a Martin [[tiple]], including a 1975 television performance in a musical duet with [[Redd Foxx]] on the [[Sanford and Son]] series, playing a character named "Smiley Rogers."<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0737237/</ref>
As a singer, he often accompanied himself on a distinctive 10-stringed stringed instrument called a Martin [[tiple]], including a 1975 television performance in a musical duet with [[Redd Foxx]] on the [[Sanford and Son]] series, playing a character named "Smiley Rogers."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0737237/|title=Timmie Rogers|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Timmie Rogers was born in [[Detroit]]. At the age of eight, he was earning money by dancing on the street. At the age of 12, Rogers ran away from home and found a job as a dishwasher on a boat, where he learned the languages of the cooks; eventually, he spoke nine. Rogers would later write and record in French and German. Later he cleaned ashtrays at a local ballroom, absorbed what he saw and was invited to dance onstage before acts. By 1932, Rogers was part of a successful dance team, Timmie & Freddie, that performed on the vaudeville circuit. They split in 1944 as blacks across the country were developing a collective voice in the name of civil rights, and Rogers decided to try it on his own, his way.
Timmie Rogers was born in [[Detroit]] to Lillian Ancrum. At the age of eight, he was earning money by dancing on the street. At the age of 12, Rogers ran away from home and found a job as a dishwasher on a boat, where he learned the languages of the cooks; eventually, he spoke nine. Rogers would later write and record in French and German. Later he cleaned ashtrays at a local ballroom, absorbed what he saw and was invited to dance onstage before acts. By 1932, Rogers was part of a successful dance team, Timmie & Freddie, that performed on the vaudeville circuit. They split in 1944 as blacks across the country were developing a collective voice in the name of civil rights, and Rogers decided to try it on his own, his way.


==Career==
==Career==
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==Death==
==Death==
On December 17, 2006, Rogers died of undisclosed causes in [[Los Angeles]] at the age of 91. He was survived by two daughters, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.<ref name="jet" />
On December 17, 2006, Rogers died of undisclosed causes in [[Los Angeles]] at the age of 91.<ref name="jet" />


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0737237}}
* {{IMDb name|0737237}}
* {{Find a Grave|18104928}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Michigan]]
[[Category:Male actors from Michigan]]
[[Category:African-American male comedians]]
[[Category:African-American male comedians]]
[[Category:African-American comedians]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:African-American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:African-American male actors]]
[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Michigan]]
[[Category:Singers from Detroit]]
[[Category:Singers from Detroit]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan]]
[[Category:Comedians from Detroit]]

Latest revision as of 06:50, 10 December 2024

Timmie Rogers
Born
Timothy Louis Ancrum

(1915-07-04)July 4, 1915
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedDecember 17, 2006(2006-12-17) (aged 91)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesTimmie Rodgers
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • singer-songwriter
  • bandleader
  • actor
Years active1927–1993
Children2

Timmie Rogers (born Timothy Louis Ancrum July 4, 1915 – December 17, 2006) was an American comedian, singer-songwriter, bandleader and actor who appeared on many national TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s.[1][2] Rogers was one of the first Black comedians allowed to directly address a white audience when he worked. Before Rogers, African-American funny men had to either work in pairs or groups, only conversing with each other, and they had to play a character, while popular white comedians, such as Bob Hope and Jack Benny got to play themselves. Rogers worked by himself,[2] always dressed well, often wearing a tuxedo, and never wore blackface.[1]

His humor was clean, topical, and political. Rogers was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1993,[1] and is often called the Jackie Robinson of comedy, because he opened the door for other performers such as Dick Gregory and Bill Cosby.

As a singer, he often accompanied himself on a distinctive 10-stringed stringed instrument called a Martin tiple, including a 1975 television performance in a musical duet with Redd Foxx on the Sanford and Son series, playing a character named "Smiley Rogers."[3]

Early life

[edit]

Timmie Rogers was born in Detroit to Lillian Ancrum. At the age of eight, he was earning money by dancing on the street. At the age of 12, Rogers ran away from home and found a job as a dishwasher on a boat, where he learned the languages of the cooks; eventually, he spoke nine. Rogers would later write and record in French and German. Later he cleaned ashtrays at a local ballroom, absorbed what he saw and was invited to dance onstage before acts. By 1932, Rogers was part of a successful dance team, Timmie & Freddie, that performed on the vaudeville circuit. They split in 1944 as blacks across the country were developing a collective voice in the name of civil rights, and Rogers decided to try it on his own, his way.

Career

[edit]

He was known as the Unknown Pioneer of (Black) Comedy. He insisted on not wearing blackface when performing his comedy act and stood firm with his conviction. His catchphrase was "Oh Yeah!" and it was a part of his act for over 50 years. Rogers starred in US television's first black prime-time show Uptown Jubilee on CBS Television in 1949.

He was also a recurring guest star on The Jackie Gleason Show for over 12 years, and would continue to work with Jackie Gleason for the next thirty years. Rogers later credited Gleason for giving him national exposure which helped his career.[4] Rogers also wrote music including "If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes", a song recorded by Nat King Cole. He also wrote songs for Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan.[5] In the late 1950s and living in Philadelphia, he recorded on Cameo and Parkway Records. His hits included "Back to School Again" and "I Love Ya, I Love Ya, I Love Ya".

Death

[edit]

On December 17, 2006, Rogers died of undisclosed causes in Los Angeles at the age of 91.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Batts, Denise Watson (3 February 2008). "Timmie Rogers: Revolutionary for a new black comedy". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Timmie Rogers mimics oldtime aces in TV skit". The Afro American. ANP. 15 July 1961. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Timmie Rogers". IMDb.
  4. ^ "Gleason Remembered For Helping Black Comedians". Jet. 72 (16). Johnson Publishing Company: 60. July 13, 1987. ISSN 0021-5996.
  5. ^ a b "Timmie Rogers, Pioneering Comic". Jet. 111 (1). Johnson Publishing Company: 56. January 8, 2007. ISSN 0021-5996.
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