User:DC5JamesStewart/sandbox

Born: Sept. 5, 1936 in Windsor

Before being inducted into the London-based Jack Richardson Music Hall Of Fame, Hollingsworth conducted a wide-ranging interview with a London Free Press reporter. Hollingsworth said his birth date was Sept. 5, 1936, a year earlier than generally believed. Adoption details had been discovered, confirming the 1936 date, he said.

Hollingsworth was listed as being 10 years old when he was Page One news in The Free Press on Nov. 23, 1946. The story told of his backstage meeting with dance legend Bill (Bojangles) Robinson the previous night (Nov. 22, 1946) at the old London Arena (since demolished).

"Let's see you do a little step," Robinson told the youngster. "Say, son, that's great. Where did you learn that?" Robinson said after the the young Joey offered a few steps. "Saw you do it up on stage there," Joey replied.

The two spent about 10 minutes together with Bojangles offering the future star "about $500 worth of dancing lessons for free," The Free Press reported.