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Mr. Bojangles Trivia Quiz

"Mr. Bojangles" is my all-time favourite swing song! This quiz is based on various recordings of the song. Robbie Williams recording of it is my absolute favourite so it will be the focus.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mr. Turkle. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Mr. Turkle

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
178,165

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
643

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Fill In The Blank- "I knew a man. Bojangles and he'll ______ for you. Hint

dance

moonwalk

prance

tap

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which of the following did "Mr.Bojangles" not have? Hint

Baggy Pants

Ragged Shirt

Old Brown Shoes

Silver Hair

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Question 3 of 15

3. How many years did Bojangles speak with tears for? Hint

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Question 4 of 15

4. Why did he speak with tears? Hint

He lost his favourite pair of tap shoes

He was in a wheelchair

His dog up and died

His wife left him

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Question 5 of 15

5. What accent does Robbie Williams put on for the emotional verse about Bojangles hard life? Hint

Australian

Cocne

English

African-American

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who else recorded in the studio where Robbie Williams recorded "Mr. Bojangles"? Hint

Ben Folds

Frank Sinatra

Michael Buble

Herbie Hancock

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Question 7 of 15

7. What did the orchestra do at the completion of Robbie Williams recording "Mr. Bojangles" for the first take? Hint

They didn't respond

Booed and jeered

Stood and applauded

Talked amoungst themselves before the next take

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Question 8 of 15

8. According to Williams, what do Bojangles and he have in common? Hint

Same Coloured Eyes

Both Haven't Found True Love

Both Love Dogs

Drinker, Brawler and Womaniser

9. Bojangles was a name given to a type of itinerant street dancer, and from this tradition emerged Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, one of the first entertainers to be acknowledged with that nickname. When he died, numerous people lined up to carry his coffin. Which of these did not? Hint

Cole Porter

Roy Eldridge

Duke Ellington

Irving Berlin

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Question 10 of 15

10. How does the song "Mr Bojangles" finish? Hint

Burp

Whistle

Hum

Sound Of Tears

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Question 11 of 15

11. Who wrote "Mr. Bojangles" and in what year was it written? Hint

Jerry Jeff Walker - 1966

Sammy Davis Jr. - 1969

Sammy Davis Jr. - 1966

Jerry Jeff Walker - 1968

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Question 12 of 15

12. Who first sang "Mr. Bojangles"? Hint

Frank Sinatra

Sammy Davis Jr.

Jerry Jeff Walker

Harry Nilsson

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Question 13 of 15

13. Which of the following singers has NOT covered "Mr. Bojangles"? Hint

Kristofer Astrom

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

David Bromberg

Nina Ferro

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Question 14 of 15

14. What cartoon character has sung his own version of "Mr. Bojangles" on "The Simpsons"? Hint

Barney

Artie Ziff

Comic Book Guy

Homer

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Question 15 of 15

15. In what year did Bill "Bojangles" Robinson die? Hint

1948

1949

1950

1951

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Fill In The Blank- "I knew a man. Bojangles and he'll ______ for you.

Answer: dance

The song title is probably derived from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949); one of the greatest tap dancers. However, the Bojangles in the song is not Bill Robinson; the song's author says he based it on a man he met in a jail cell.

2. Which of the following did "Mr.Bojangles" not have?

Answer: Old Brown Shoes

Bojangles would apparently wear these types of clothes in real life despite his fame.

3. How many years did Bojangles speak with tears for?

Answer: 15

This is part of the lyrics to the song; and after 20 years he still grieves the loss of his dog.

4. Why did he speak with tears?

Answer: His dog up and died

Bojangles' dog did die and this affected him drastically.

5. What accent does Robbie Williams put on for the emotional verse about Bojangles hard life?

Answer: African-American

Williams decided to do this at the last minute before recording.

6. Who else recorded in the studio where Robbie Williams recorded "Mr. Bojangles"?

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Robbie chose to record "Swing When You're Winning" in this LA studio because Sinatra recorded there.

7. What did the orchestra do at the completion of Robbie Williams recording "Mr. Bojangles" for the first take?

Answer: Stood and applauded

The orchestra actually stood and applauded because they were in rapture that a young person was singing the "old songs" and doing them so unbelievably well.

8. According to Williams, what do Bojangles and he have in common?

Answer: Drinker, Brawler and Womaniser

On his "Live At The Albert" DVD, Williams states "he was a drinker, a brawler and a womaniser. So we're in good company!"

Answer: Roy Eldridge

On "Live At The Albert", Williams recites that "when he died, his coffin was carried by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin".

10. How does the song "Mr Bojangles" finish?

Answer: Whistle

This is how it was originally recorded by Sammy Davis Jr.

11. Who wrote "Mr. Bojangles" and in what year was it written?

Answer: Jerry Jeff Walker - 1968

The song was written for Walker's first solo album which was published in 1969.

12. Who first sang "Mr. Bojangles"?

Answer: Jerry Jeff Walker

The song was first sung by Walker on his first album before it became one of Nilsson's most requested songs and was included on his "Best Of Nilsson" album in 1988.

13. Which of the following singers has NOT covered "Mr. Bojangles"?

Answer: Nina Ferro

Nina Ferro, an Australian jazz singer has not yet recorded "Mr. Bojanges". Astrom, Bromberg and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have all covered popular versions of the song.

14. What cartoon character has sung his own version of "Mr. Bojangles" on "The Simpsons"?

Answer: Homer

This is the funniest thing I have ever seen! Homer wanted to buy Marge an anniversary present so he decided to be a "crazy" bum in order to get enough money to buy her a nice present. He sings Bojangles while people throw money at him and run away!

15. In what year did Bill "Bojangles" Robinson die?

Answer: 1949

Robinson died of a chronic heart condition at Columbia Presbyterian Center in New York City in 1949. His body lay in state at an armory in Harlem; schools were closed, thousands lined the streets waiting for a glimpse of his bier, and he was eulogized by politicians, black and white--perhaps more lavishly than any other African American of his time.

He was buried in the cemetery of the Evergreens in New York City. The song title is probably derived from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949). However, the Bojangles in the song is not Bill Robinson; the song is based on Babe Stovall (a blues singer from New Orleans).

Source: Author Mr. Turkle

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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