Earl Tucker
American, 1906 - 1937
Names
- Snakehips Tucker
- Earl Tucker
- Human Boa Constrictor
BiographyEarl "Snakehips" Tucker was born on August 14, 1904, in Baltimore, Maryland, and was an American dancer and entertainer. He earned the nickname "Snakehips" due to his mastery of the popular Harlem-style dance that involved a great deal of hip motion. Tucker even became popular enough to eventually perform at Connie's Inn and the Cotton Club. In 1930, he appeared in Benny Rubin's 16-minute short film "Crazy House," a comedic introduction to residents at the fictitious "Lame Brain Sanitarium". In 1935, Tucker appeared in a short film called "Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life". The film was inspired by a Duke Ellington composition and included clips of Ellington composing. Earl died on May 14, 1937, at the age of 31 from a “mysterious illness.”
Sources: The Kennedy Center Digital Resources Library; New York Times, Dec. 2019.
Sources: The Kennedy Center Digital Resources Library; New York Times, Dec. 2019.
Person TypeIndividual
