Pigmeat Markham
Singer, dancer, comedian, and actor Dewey Markham – born on April 18, 1904, in
Durham, South Carolina – was better known by his stage name Pigmeat Markham. He
began his career performing in traveling music and burlesque shows in the 1920s,
briefly performing alongside Bessie Smith in her Traveling Revue. Claiming to be
the originator of the famous Truckin’ dance of the 1930s, he began the long
transformation into acting in the 1940s by appearing in films. By the 1950s, he
was known more for his comedy routines, which became very popular although he
did skirt controversy by appear...
