The Clark Brothers - Mike & Bernie Winters Show - Tx 21/4/1973

Steve Clark, Water Rat 666
James Clark, Water Rat 667
James was born in Philadelphia on July 23rd 1922 and his younger brother Steve came along two years later. Coming from a devout religious family (both boys knew 125 hymns by the time they were 5) it was hard for the Clark parents to accept the frivolity of dance but seeing how well their cousin (Sammy Davis Jnr) was doing, it was hard to ignore it. They were both performing at Harlem's legendary Cotton Club at 15 & 17 and were soon selling out venues on the Chitlin' Circuit.
It was when they played the Catskills opening for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sophie Tucker and Howard Keel that the Variety theatre doors opened for them. It was Sinatra who told them to go to England and perform the circuit there, and once they did, they were so successful they made the UK home.
Tours, TV shows and Royal Variety were soon regularly in their diaries and they became one of the most sort after dance acts in Britain.
James died in 2009 & Steve in 2017.

[@kimclark2815]

This is my father and uncle. Thank you for uploading it.

[@glenconmc]

Wow! Fantastic!

[@TapDanceExchange]

Thank you so much for uploading! So glad my brother & I got to hang out with Steve in his later years after being introduced by Leon R. I was in the Water Rats pub the other day talking stories with the staff. Sending love from The Bailey Brothers Tap Duo ❤ One day we will dance together again!

[@andrewbutcher3391]

Always liked to see them….The days when you could make a living out of a five minute act…

[@rhetoricalquestion6009]

The Clark Brothers are just brilliant. There seem to be only a handful of videos available, but here's a couple of great ones:
_Tap Dancing The Clark Brother's "1948"_ • haston thornton • Jan 6, 2011 • YtUegrDxjTQ
and at an astonishing, frenetic pace:
_The Clark Brothers - Tap Dancers (1955)_ • vintage video clips • Feb 1, 2020 • Nggwtd2ex0k