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Michael Jackson didn’t invent the moonwalk

Bill Bailey was an American tap dancer born in 1912. He was said to be Bill Robinsons student and elements of Bill Robinson can be seen in his performances, although his tapping style is quite a bit different. He appeared in many dance sequences in films. Harlem Variety Revue 1955, Tribute to Bill Robinson. In this short video clip Bill Bailey performs a move that has been called for many years, the Moonwalk.

Michael Jackson executed it during his performance of his song “Billie Jean” on the March 25, 1983, television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, and was considered his signature move. The moonwalk has since become one of the best known dance moves in the world.

So while MJ made it famous, it was an old school tap dancer that was the first to walk on the moon.

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  1. July 9th, 2009 at 12:12 | #1

    [..YouTube..] michael jackson is 421673t438764584638 times better than him

  2. July 10th, 2009 at 08:20 | #2

    [..YouTube..] But he didn’t invent it now, did he? Plus he is not.

  3. July 10th, 2009 at 08:20 | #3

    [..YouTube..] But he didn’t invent it now, did he?

    Plus he is not.

  4. July 10th, 2009 at 12:58 | #4

    [..YouTube..] but he made it global

  5. July 10th, 2009 at 14:04 | #5

    [..YouTube..] bill bailey invented it. michael made it famous. michael does it better

  6. July 11th, 2009 at 20:57 | #6

    [..YouTube..] I agree, this doesn’t even look like the moonwalk.

  7. July 13th, 2009 at 01:44 | #7

    [..YouTube..] This is moonwalk and michael get the inspiration from him!And made moon walk famous

  8. July 14th, 2009 at 21:49 | #8

    [..YouTube..] The phrase “There is nothing new under the sun” comes to mind. It’s great to see the moonwalk no matter who does it, but let’s face facts: we learn the SHOWBIZ version of history and not the FACTUAL version; then we get to arguing about things that have nothing to do with us. Michael did not invent the moonwalk. DEAL. Does that make Mowtown 25 any less enjoyable..?

  9. July 19th, 2009 at 04:20 | #9

    [..YouTube..] Mj always said he never invented it, he just renovated it and made it look awsome and commercial

  10. July 19th, 2009 at 15:38 | #10

    [..YouTube..] wow he has tap shoes really hard, mj the inventor the greatest, it doesent look like the moonwalk that was done 2002 photo shop it

  11. July 22nd, 2009 at 18:15 | #11

    [..YouTube..] How do you know it was Bill Bailey that actually invented it…? Could be someone else…? Though of course Michael’s way was obviously more appealing. Love you Michael :-*

  12. July 23rd, 2009 at 21:57 | #12

    [..YouTube..] Mj did not invent the moonwalk, he made it famous…

  13. August 4th, 2009 at 02:58 | #13

    [..YouTube..] that moonwalk was rubbish

  14. August 5th, 2009 at 23:59 | #14

    [..YouTube..] even if he didnt invent it he perfected it, rip

  15. August 17th, 2009 at 09:22 | #15

    [..YouTube..] miachel jackson made the moonwalk famous and he made it better and faster and it looked like he floed. rest in peas Miachel jackson!

  16. September 2nd, 2009 at 14:30 | #16

    [..YouTube..] oh jeez michael could get away with murder, why do you people love this guy so much to let him get away with everyting. I know mj didn’t take credit but he might as well, and the rest of you would still be kissing his nuts if he took credit.

    Mj could do no wrong. He’d rape your child and you’d be okay with it. He’d hit you with his car and you would apoligize for being in his way. He’d tear you house down and you would say “he probably had a good reason”.

    The guy was a creep. thats it

  17. September 25th, 2009 at 14:56 | #17

    [..YouTube..] look you mother fucker he invented the moonwalk so that is the best moonwalk you’ll ever see

  18. September 26th, 2009 at 01:34 | #18

    [..YouTube..] Must. Resist. Wacko. Jacko. Joke!

  19. September 27th, 2009 at 01:15 | #19

    [..YouTube..] its still rubbish

  20. September 27th, 2009 at 17:48 | #20

    [..YouTube..] true sorry

  21. September 29th, 2009 at 02:37 | #21

    [..YouTube..] I saw a film of Michael Jackson’s life where he was behind the scenes while Bill Bailey sang and danced. In the film, Michael began imitating what Bill did on stage. So, it is actually stated that he inspired from him among many other dancers, I guess. That’s what artists do.

  22. October 4th, 2009 at 05:29 | #22

    [..YouTube..] he did make it famous and a lil better

  23. October 18th, 2009 at 10:36 | #23

    [..YouTube..] wow.that’s crazy.

  24. October 25th, 2009 at 12:33 | #24

    [..YouTube..] yes roush26 you must be sniffing way to much to say shit like that

  25. October 27th, 2009 at 17:40 | #25

    [..YouTube..] Yes … Rest in peas … They are so colorful and tasty …

  26. November 6th, 2009 at 16:35 | #26

    [..YouTube..] It’s not created by either… It was created by 2 mimes

  27. November 18th, 2009 at 18:39 | #27

    [..YouTube..] In Micheal’s Oprah interview he said he saw some ‘kids in the streets doing it and they taught him how to do it”.

  28. November 23rd, 2009 at 17:23 | #28

    [..YouTube..] its not like michael tried to say he made the moon walk. he just perfected it and made it better!

  29. November 27th, 2009 at 21:06 | #29

    [..YouTube..] Thats not the moon walk, thats the back slide.

  30. December 1st, 2009 at 11:35 | #30

    [..YouTube..] Yes MJ never said he invented the Moonwalk.

  31. December 9th, 2009 at 17:17 | #31

    [..YouTube..] It was invented by Marcel Marceau, He was a popular mime.

  32. December 17th, 2009 at 11:33 | #32

    [..YouTube..] Cool!

  33. December 25th, 2009 at 06:05 | #33

    [..YouTube..] Cab Calloway was doing this stuff in the 1930′s.

  34. December 29th, 2009 at 10:12 | #34

    [..YouTube..] no he didn’t event the moonwalk. thats where michael jackson got the idea of the moonwalk

  35. January 2nd, 2010 at 19:01 | #35

    [..YouTube..] Michael Jackson is on the same level as all of the great dancers…I don’t think there’s any competition amongst them…for the love of the dance I’m sure Cab Calloway and Bill Bailey would love to see what Michael Jackson was able to do for dancing and for black culture and black music.

  36. January 10th, 2010 at 14:26 | #36

    [..YouTube..] @RLO4E You can add the Nicholas Brothers and the Berry Brothers as well to this list of dance legends.Michael knew the Nicholas brothers personally they taught him and Janet how to tap dance when they were young.

  37. January 14th, 2010 at 21:25 | #37

    [..YouTube..] Don’t be a smartass, we know it’s actually called a backslide…

  38. January 15th, 2010 at 19:43 | #38

    [..YouTube..] @Fitfatfoofite Well the person who posted this video didn’t, other wise he would call it the backslide. So not every knows that that move was called the backslide, and the moonwalk though similar looks a lot different.

    Smart Ass

  39. January 15th, 2010 at 20:43 | #39

    [..YouTube..] @Fitfatfoofite Well the person who posted this video didn’t, other wise he would call it the backslide. So not every knows that that move was called the backslide, and the moonwalk though similar looks a lot different. Smart Ass

  40. January 17th, 2010 at 13:29 | #40

    [..YouTube..] It is annoying that the “moonwalk” is thought of as something invented by Michael Jackson.

    Anyone who watches the greats from the black and white era knows, for a fact, that this is not so.

  41. January 17th, 2010 at 14:29 | #41

    [..YouTube..] It is annoying that the “moonwalk” is thought of as something invented by Michael Jackson.Anyone who watches the greats from the black and white era knows, for a fact, that this is not so.

  42. January 27th, 2010 at 04:00 | #42

    [..YouTube..] well no shit since that man there just did it. So it really should’nt make you mad that people say that. I think you just like to be a dick and bitch at people for any reason Mr. ArisztidZ. Hit me up in a mesg. if you disagree :)

  43. February 1st, 2010 at 03:32 | #43

    [..YouTube..] OMGOSH PEOPLE IT’S NOT THAT SERIOUS !!!
    It’s just a dance move, Let’s just simply appreciate the dancers that just did it incredibly !
    No matter when or who did it !!!

  44. February 1st, 2010 at 04:32 | #44

    [..YouTube..] OMGOSH PEOPLE IT’S NOT THAT SERIOUS !!!It’s just a dance move, Let’s just simply appreciate the dancers that just did it incredibly !No matter when or who did it !!!

  45. February 10th, 2010 at 20:22 | #45

    [..YouTube..] yeah i was havimg this debate with my mum and sister

  46. February 18th, 2010 at 18:07 | #46

    @hbky2j1992
    no Billy Bailey is the only good one because he created it he knows how to do it so no one can do it better then him!

  47. February 18th, 2010 at 18:10 | #47

    EdwardPack1988 :[..YouTube..] @Fitfatfoofite Well the person who posted this video didn’t, other wise he would call it the backslide. So not every knows that that move was called the backslide, and the moonwalk though similar looks a lot different.
    Smart Ass

  48. February 26th, 2010 at 16:10 | #48

    [..YouTube..] hahaha people really dont get it do they? Michael JAckson did not INVENT the moonwalk. He learned it and made it his own by incorporating his own variations of great dancers’ moves- thats what makes him great- he embodies the talent of all those dancers combined with his spins, and turns and slides and crotch grab thing is his…but no, he didnt INVENT the move, it was around when he was an infant

  49. March 11th, 2010 at 10:51 | #49

    [..YouTube..] if a black guy did that today, id be called a racist for watching

  50. March 12th, 2010 at 20:33 | #50

    [..YouTube..] @Thunda1986 I was having it with my dad just 10 minutes ago after watching This is It XD It’s actually trying to prove him wrong that I found this

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