Doctor Leonard Reed, The Senior Citizen of Show Business, Part I
Leonard Reed, 95, is an amazing man with a life filled with many varied accomplishments. Recently, a friend from Paris sent him several old recording of songs he composed many years ago by Ella Fitzgerald and Fletcher Henderson. "I am so appreciative of all the beautiful things that are happening to me at this stage in my life," Reed exclaimed. In February he received an honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts presented from Oklahoma City University by Jo Rowan, John Bedford and Robert Reed.
Contributing to his success is his wife, Barbara de Costa, who was an accomplished and successful singer when they married. Their life together is filled with family, dance, music, golf and humor. They reside in Southern California and Leonard is semi-retired. He has been a performer, producer, writer, choreographer, director, teacher, dancer and championship golfer. Different facets of his multi-careers continue to surface.
In 1938 a boxer who had won his first professional fight in 1937, introduced himself to a tap dance show producer at the Plantation Club in Detroit. The boxer, Joe Louis, (later known as The Brown Bomber) became the most famous fighter of all time and the heavyweight champion of the world for fifteen years. The producer, Leonard Reed, went on to produce shows at the Apollo, Lafayette and Lincoln Theatres and the famous Cotton Club in New York. A lasting friendship developed from Louis asking Reed to help him dress with more style.
Both men loved golf and often played together. In the '40's Louis played on the Black golf circuit. However, when he tried to register in a P.G.A. tournament in San Diego, he was turned down. Reed had no problem because his skin was very light. "The story was given to Walter Winchell, an influential newspaper columnist," Reed recalled. "P.G.A. officials held a meeting and Joe Louis became the first Black golfer to play in a P.G.A. tournament. During World War II Louis enlisted in the Army and when he came out, I taught him how to sing and dance and took him into vaudeville and nightclubs. Louis loved the nightclub atmosphere because he liked being around all the beautiful girls. For fifteen years we toured the United States and Europe. Few men can say they fought the Bomber twice, but I did it every night in a staged knock-down drag-out fight in a nightclub or a theatre."
Reed was recently honored by the P.G.A and personally acknowledged by Tiger Woods for his contribution to golf. When Joe Louis played in the P.G.A. tournaments with Reed, they opened the door for Black golfers to play in future tournaments. Reed's photo is on the cover of a new golf book with Tiger Woods.
Reed has received many dance awards including the Flo-Bert in New York, a St. Louis Tap Festival Award, and from Oklahoma City University a Legend Award and a Doctorate of Performing Arts. He was honored in his hometown, Kansas City and special guests were: The Nicholas Brothers, Jeni LeGon, Cholly Atkins, Robert Reed and Melba Huber. It was a beautiful celebration. At a small dinner the first evening, Reed performed both parts of the Joe Louis act and it was hilarious. He loved every minute of the celebration.
Reed was master of ceremonies at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. All that Apollo experience gave him an expertise as host that was a joy to see. He also taught classes that included different versions of the Shim Sham.
In New York where he received the Flo-Bert Award, he was also honored at a reception in Harlem at the New York State Building. Both gatherings were filled with people who had worked for him in the many shows he produced. He remembered everyone and everything.
There is an on-going controversy about the second step in the Shim Sham, a dance Reed created. When he led the Shim Sham in Harlem, it was danced Reed's original way because the group was filled with many chorus dancers from shows he had produced. However, the next day at the conclusion of the Flo-Bert Awards, Reed again led the Shim Sham at the finale and stopped the show to make the correction. It finished his way and the audience enjoyed seeing the performers on stage corrected.
One of Reed's major claims to fame will be the creation of the Shim Sham, a dance that is used at the closing of almost every tap event. Some even call it the national anthem of tap. The dance, like its creator, will remain a unique gift to the world. •