Mae Barnes

Biography

Mae Barnes was a renowned American jazz singer, dancer, and comic entertainer born in New York City, with some uncertainty surrounding her birth year. She made her Broadway debut in the 1924 revue Runnin' Wild, introducing the Charleston dance to the stage, and later became known for her performances in vaudeville and touring productions such as Shuffle Along. A celebrated tap dancer, she was dubbed "the greatest living female" by Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.