Blackbirds of 1928 was a hit Broadway revue

Revue

A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...

 with music by Jimmy McHugh

Jimmy McHugh

James Francis McHugh was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs...

 and lyrics by Dorothy Fields

Dorothy Fields

Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...

. It contained the songs "Diga Diga Do", the duo's first hit, "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", and "I Must Have That Man" all sung by Adelaide Hall

Adelaide Hall

Adelaide Hall was an American-born U.K.-based jazz singer and entertainer.Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York and was taught to sing by her father...

.

History

Blackbirds of 1928 was the idea of impresario Lew Leslie

Lew Leslie

Lew Leslie was a Broadway writer and producer. Although white, he was the first impressario to present black artists on stage...

, who planned to build the show around Florence Mills

Florence Mills

Florence Mills, born Florence Winfrey , known as the "Queen of Happiness," was an African American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian known for her effervescent stage presence, delicate voice, and winsome, wide-eyed beauty.-Life and career:A daughter of former enslaved parents, Nellie and John...

 in New York after her success in the hit show Blackbirds in London 1926, but she died in 1927 before rehearsals started.

Productions

The original Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 production opened at Liberty Theatre on May 9, 1928 and ran for 518 performances and became the longest running all-black show on Broadway. It was directed by producer Lew Leslie

Lew Leslie

Lew Leslie was a Broadway writer and producer. Although white, he was the first impressario to present black artists on stage...

 and starred Adelaide Hall

Adelaide Hall

Adelaide Hall was an American-born U.K.-based jazz singer and entertainer.Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York and was taught to sing by her father...

, Bill Robinson

Bill Robinson

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was an American tap dancer and actor of stage and film. Audiences enjoyed his understated style, which eschewed the frenetic manner of the jitterbug in favor of cool and reserve; rarely did he use his upper body, relying instead on busy, inventive feet, and an expressive...

. Aida Ward, and Tim Moore

Tim Moore (comedian)

Tim Moore was a celebrated American vaudevillian and comic actor of the first half of the 20th century. He gained his greatest recognition in the starring role of George "Kingfish" Stevens in the CBS television series, Amos 'n' Andy...

. Also in the cast were Mantan Moreland

Mantan Moreland

Mantan Moreland was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s.-Career:Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent, reportedly running away to join the circus...

, Cecil Mack

Cecil Mack

Cecil Mack was an American composer, lyricist and music publisher....

, and Nina Mae McKinney

Nina Mae McKinney

Nina Mae McKinney was an American actress who worked internationally in theatre, film and television after getting her start on Broadway and in Hollywood...

.

Musical Numbers

• Diga Diga Do
• I Can't Give You Anything But Love
• Porgy
• Bandanna Babies
• Doin' the New Low-Down
• Shuffle Your Feet
• Dixie
• I Must Have That Man