Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin is a master tap dancer, teacher, and historian.
Reggio discovered his passion for tap dancing early in life. At seven years old, Reggio received his first tap lesson on the sidewalks of Chicago from his sister, whose tap performance at a local community center showcase changed young Reggio’s life:
“When we went to the showcase, it was just so exciting. The rhythm of the clickety-clackety-clack sound…oh man, it was love at first sight. From that point on, it stayed with me.”
Reggio McLaughlin: The Musician
Despite this early passion, it would be years before Reggio made his way back to tap dancing, for his immense musical talent took Reggio down a different career path. As a bass guitarist for Chicago’s Brunswick records, Reggio toured the country with The Lost Generation and the Shy-Lites, and opened for such legendary artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips and James Brown.
But the love of tap dancing never left Reggio. He successfully made the transition from musician to tap dancer, training and performing with the very best of the tap world, including Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, The Nicholas Brothers, and Jimmy Slyde.
Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin
The greatest influence on Reggio’s mastery of tap dancing and its history was his mentor, Ernest “Brownie” Brown, a founding member of the Copasetics, a group of master tap dancers and musicians organized in 1949 to preserve the legacy of the great Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, and tap dancing itself. Together, Reggio and Brownie performed and taught for nearly two decades, until Brownie’s passing in 2009.
Today, Reggio continues to keep the art and tradition of tap alive. He teaches and performs around the world, but always comes home to Chicago, where—since 1994—he’s been the principle tap instructor at the renown Old Town School of Folk Music.
Reggio’s immense contributions to preserving the art and tradition of tap have been richly recognized. Perhaps most notably, in 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts named Reggio a National Heritage Fellow, our nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. With this award, Reggio received the National Medal of Honor and officially became a National Living Treasure.
I’m honored to be a student of Reggio’s, and to share his inspirational journey with Vanguard of Hollywood listeners. Reggio’s story is one of dreams followed and achieved; of accomplishing what he was born to do. As Reggio shared during our interview:
“There was a saying in the neighborhood I grew up with, ‘if you’re true to it, it will be true to you.’ So I was always true to my art form. I always dealt with it with morals and principles…I began to feel like you think you chose it, but one day you realize it chose you.”
Listen to Episode 85
Listen to episode 85 of Vanguard of Hollywood for all about Reggio’s inspirational story.
And be sure to read Reggio’s autobiography, Reggio McLaughlin: Tap Dance of Life, available on his website.
This was a great listen. Really enjoyed Reggio’s story. A man with a passion and he did something great with it. Thanks!
Perfectly said Buck, thanks so much for listening!
I’m a tap dancer and this interview was fabulous! Inspiring life and I learned so much. Thank you Reggio and Shannon!
Always good to meet a fellow tapper, Steph! Thanks so much for listening!
Loved it! Another great interview. I am not a dancer, but Reggio makes me want to tap!
That’s great to hear, thanks so much for listening Diane!