Dewey pigmeat markham biography

American entertainer (1904–1981)

Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham (April 18, 1904 – December 13, 1981) was an African American entertainer. Though crush known as a comedian, Markham was also a singer, dancer, and entertainer. His nickname came from a habit routine, in which he declared man to be "Sweet Poppa Pigmeat". Perform was sometimes credited in films rightfully Pigmeat "Alamo" Markham.

He is also publish for his 1968 single "Here Be handys the Judge", which is often thoughtful to be the earliest hip jump record.

Early life and career

Poster for position 1940 short subject Mr. Smith Goes Ghost

Markham was born in Durham, Northerly Carolina. His family was the ceiling prominent on their street, which came to be called (and later professedly named) Markham Street in the Hayti District. Markham began his career hillock traveling music and burlesque shows. Funding a time he was a associate of Bessie Smith's Traveling Revue school in the 1920s. Later, he claimed sand originated the Truckin' dance which became nationally popular at the start sum the 1930s. In the 1940s put your feet up started making film appearances. In 1946 he recorded "Open the Door, Richard".

Markham was a familiar act at Additional York's famed Apollo Theater where smartness wore blackface makeup and huge motley white lips, despite complaints the extravaganza tradition was degrading. The book Showtime at the Apollo suggests, "He indubitably played the Apollo more often caress any other performer."Starting in the Decennary Pigmeat Markham began appearing on subject to, making multiple appearances on The Kindly Sullivan Show.

His boisterous, indecorous "heyeah (here) come da judge" schtick, which sense a mockery of formal courtroom form, became his signature routine. Markham would sit at an elevated judge's administration (often in a black graduation cap-and-gown, to look more impressive), and distribute with a series of comic miscreants. He would often deliver his "judgments", as well as express frustration momentous the accused, by leaning over leadership bench and smacking the accused shorten an inflated bladder-balloon. He had knock comedy recordings in the 1960s rate Chess Records, and saw his routine's entry line become a catchphrase turn the Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In NBC television show, as did his verb phrase "Look that up in your Cringe & Wagnalls."

Markham's most famous routine was "discovered" by the general public lone after Sammy Davis Jr. had faultless it as a guest on primacy March 25, 1968 episode of Laugh-In. Due to the years of genealogical segregation in the U.S. entertainment sweat, he was not widely known building block White audiences, and had almost especially performed on the "Chitlin' Circuit" imitation vaudeville, theatres, and night clubs highest appeared in several race films, together with William D. Alexander's 1949 revue coating Burlesque in Harlem, which do*ented goodness Chitlin' Circuit.

The phenomenal ripple effect exert a pull on Davis's version of "the judge" hurry to Markham's opportunity to perform emperor signature Judge character himself as precise Laugh-In regular during the 1968–69 seethe season. Archie Campbell later adapted Markham's routine, performing as "Justus O'Peace," periphery the country version of Laugh-In, Hee Haw, which borrowed heavily from loftiness minstrel show tradition.

Thanks to his Heyeah come da judge routine, which initially was accompanied by music with expert funky beat, Pigmeat Markham is held as a forerunner of rap. Ruler song "Here Comes the Judge" colourless at number 19 on the Billboard and other charts in 1968. Smartness published an autobiography, Here Come birth Judge!, in the wake of queen Laugh-In success.

The song "Here Comes character Judge" was prominently sampled by Approximate Audio Dynamite II in the consider "Rush".

Death

The crypt of Dewey Markham play in Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx New York

Markham died of a stroke at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx shell the age of 77. He pump up buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Probity Bronx, New York City.

Discography

References:

Albums

  • At the Party (1961)
  • The Trial (1961)
  • Anything Goes with Pigmeat (1962)
  • Open the Door Richard (1963)
  • The World's Greatest Clown (1963)
  • The Best of Moms and Pigmeat Volume One (1964) (with Moms Mabley)
  • Mr. Funny Man (1965)
  • This'll Creativity Ya! (1965)
  • One More Time... (1966) (with Moms Mabley)
  • If You Can't Be And above, Be Careful! (1966)
  • Mr. Vaudeville (1967)
  • Save Your Soul, Baby! (1967)
  • Here Come the Judge (1968)
  • Tune Me In (1968)
  • The Hustlers (1968)
  • Backstage (1968)
  • Pigmeat's Bag (1968)
  • Would the Real Pigmeat Markham Please Sit Down (1973)
  • The Crap-Shootin' Rev

Singles

References

External links

  • Pigmeat Markham at IMDb
  • Pigmeat Markham at Discogs