Gary "Pete" Nugent (July 16, 1909 – April 25, 1973) was an American tap dancer known as "Public Tapper, Number 1". He was also part of the class act, Pete, Peaches, and Duke.
Nugent performed all over the world including across Europe in World War II and in Mexico,""FOLLOW THE FLEET" ON SCREEN AT ODEON." The New York Amsterdam News but had a focus on New York and Harlem in particular. He danced with many of the greats including Honi Coles, Bunny Briggs, Charles 'Cookie' Cook, and Peg Leg Bates.Constance Valis Hill, "Pete Nugent (biography)", Tap Dance in America: A Twentieth-Century Chronology of Tap Performance on Stage, Film, and Media, Library of Congress, accessed May 4, 2022.
Early life Nugent was born in Washington, D.C., July 16, 1909 to Pauline Minerva Bruce, the offspring of a Scottish Loyalist and Richard H. Nugent, Jr., an elevator man. After their father's death, Nugent's mother who could pass as white in New York at the time, boarded her two sons, Pete and Richard Bruce Nugent, who could not pass as white, in Harlem, New York. He started dancing at the age of fourteen"Ask to Teach Dancing." Plaindealer (Kansas City, Kansas) 48, no. 20, May 17, 1946: PAGE EIGHT. Readex: African American Newspapers. while hanging around hoofer’s clubs and then ran away from home and started tapping on the "Black circuit" at age sixteen. While he drew from a great variety of dancers, his biggest influence was Eddie Rector. Nugent was known for his ability to pick up steps from others, particularly George Walker. He worked as messenger at a store in Harlem, until Paul Ford offered Nugent his start as part of his production for $30/week, twice what he had been making before.
Career The tap dance trio, Pete, Peaches, and Duke, often known as the “Sepia Sons,” was formed by Pete Nugent at age 19 in Chicago with Irving "Peaches" Beaman, with the addition of Duke Miller in 1931. Known not only for their “precision-line military drill”, but also for their various sharply dressed looks, each member of the group was said to have 26 suits, 26 pairs of shoes, and 300 ties."CLOTHES MAKE THE DANCER, BROADWAY TRIO BELIEVES: PETE, PEACHES AND DUKE HAVE 26 SUITS EACH; 78 PAIRS OF DANCING SHOES, AND 300 TIES." These were accompanied by a great number of accessories including socks, collars, and buttons that numbered well into the hundreds. They performed with a number of solos interspersed with moments of unison all of which culminated in a “one man exit” where they lined up behind each other and walked of stage in sync. A “class act,” the trio stayed away from, “temptation to let go with some flash steps,” and instead leaned into precision and continuity.
In 1935 they performed as part of Connie's Hot Chocolates of 1935 and were called to the International Dance Congress at Broadway and appointed to the faculty of staff. They were only the third people of color to receive this honor."Broadway Pays Honor to Famous Dance Act: Pete, Peaches and Duke are Called to the International Dance Congress here." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), July 6, 1935 Around the same time, it was noted that the group left shows rapidly after they ended, leaving the public in confusion as to why Pete, Peaches, and Duke were not participating in the nightlife scene. As it turns out, they had been going back to their newly acquired library from Broadway columnist Mark Hellinger and reading.
After Duke's untimely death in 1937, Pete and Peaches performed a few times together, but never reformed as a tap trio and the two remaining dancers set out on their own."Jack Johnson Goes Operatic Saturday." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), March 12, 1938
Pete, Peaches, and Duke performances At the Cotton Club, October 1931"Display Ad 40 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Oct 21, 1931 At the Howard Theatre, November 1931"Display Ad 2 -- no Title." The Afro-American (1893-), Nov 14, 1931 As part of Irving Mills', “Harlem Scandals,” 1932"Display Ad 34 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Jan 27, 1932 At Lafayette Theatre in Harlem, December 1932"Display Ad 28 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Dec 21, 1932 Performed with Don Redman and his orchestra in Detroit, March 1933 In the Elida Webb Show at Harlem Opera House, July 1934de Braganza, Romilio. "Elida Webb show at Harlem Opera House: Not Much being Heard of
Messrs. Carey and Davis these Warm Days." The New York Amsterdam News In the Battle of Revues at the Harlem Opera House, July 1934""BATTLE OF REVUES" IN FULL SWING ON 125TH ST.: BRECHER MAN FIRES HIS FIRST REAL SHOT HARLEM OPERA HOUSE SWINGS BIG REVUE CAST ON 125TH STREET." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), July 21, 1934 At the Apollo Theater, September 1934"Display Ad 21 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Sep 15, 1934 Had the finale in Shuffle Along in Providence, October 1934 Performed at the Apollo, February 1935"Display Ad 41 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Feb 23, 1935 Performed in Fats Waller's “Song Shop Revue,” February 1934 At Connie's Inn, Spring 1935"Theatrical Notes." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Jun 15, 1935 Performed in the Mammoth Revue at Loew’s State Theater, May 1935 Played with Lou Holtz, Block and Sully and Belle Baker at Loew’s Fox in Washington, October 1935ALMAC. "Theatrical Notes: THE DARK ANGEL." The New York Amsterdam News At the Stanley Theatre, October 1935 At Loew's Theatre, October 1935 Performed under producer Clarence Robinson at the Douglas Theater in Philadelphia, November 1935 In Chicago, January 1936"Footlights Screens." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), January 4, 1936 In Mexico for six weeks at the Theater Almeda, April 1936
On July 15, 1942, Nugent was inducted into the army."Future Soldier." The Afro-American (1893-), Jul 04, 1942 As part of the first integrated unit in the army due to the casting that Irving Berlin wanted for his show. Throughout his time in the army, Nugent toured Europe as part of the show, This Is The Army in an octet that he trained.Bolden, Frank E. ""this is the Army" is A Wow in Europe: Mixed Cast Praises One another as Tour of War Fronts Continues." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), December 9, 1944 In 1944 he was stationed in the fifth army in Italy and was a corporal.Cynthia, Chequita. ""Something for the Boys": SERVICE MEN'S SERVICE." New York
Amsterdam News (1943-1961), July 15, 1944, City edition He was honorably discharged from the army sometime between 1944 and 1946.
Despite the lack of video recordings of him, throughout his time as a solo artist, Gary ‘Pete’ Nugent was well regarded as “Public Tapper, Number 1.” His solo career really took off after his army discharge and he worked on his own. In addition to a number of performances, Pete Nugent also went on a number of other ventures in his time. These included opening the Dance Craft studio on Fifty-Second Street in New York City with Charles 'Honi' Coles, serving as the road manager of The Temptations, being part of the original group of Copasetics founded in memory of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, worked with the Sidewalks of New York,"Among the Stage Folk: MOSS AND FRYE." The Afro-American (1893-), Nov 26, 1927 and worked at Henry LeTang's downtown dance studio starting in November 1947.Chase, Bill. "All Ears: FROM THE MAIL BAG." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), November 8, 1947, City edition He worked at the Harlem Casino until its closing in 1939."Harlem Casino Closes in Pitt." New York Amsterdam News (1938–1941), May 20, 1939, City edition In 1940, Nugent was hired by Chappie Willet’s Artists Enterprises."... Willet's Shoulders Broad enough to Carry Load of Negro's in Showlife: ...Virginia State Grad ... Good on the ... White Way." New York Amsterdam News (1938-1941), September 14, 1940, City edition Then, in September 1950, Nugent signed with Norma Miller and her company. He was considered not only to be one of the best in her company, but also one of the best in the business.McMILLAN, ALLAN. "Allan's Alley: Broadway Guys ... and Gals ... and Stuff .." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), September 23, 1950, City edition Nugent also taught boxer, Ray Robinson, three dances that he would take on tour in October 1951.McMILLAN, ALLAN. "Allan's Alley: EXCLUSIVE, BUT NOT CONFIDENTIAL." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), October 20, 1951, City edition This was followed by the staging and presentation of 33 debutantes at Hotel St. George in conjunction with Honi Coles in 1957.Nash, Malcolm. "Sparkle of Debs Lights Brooklyn's Hotel St. George." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), January 12, 1957, City edition
Performances during Nugent's solo career- Performed for one week starting Monday, April 18, 1927 with Irvin C. Miller's Perfect Revue of Desires of 1927"Display Ad 42 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Apr 13, 1927 Performed at the Knickerbocker, November 1927 Performed with the Davis Brothers in Chicago, May 1928Tyler, Geo. "In Chicago Theatres: REGAL." The Afro-American (1893-), May 12, 1928 Danced with Peaches in Chicago, September 1928"CHILTON AND THOMAS CLOCK REGAL SHOW." The Afro-American (1893-), September 15, 1928 Danced with Peaches at the Plantation Club, March 1930"Celebrities at Ball." The Afro-American (1893-), Mar 01, 1930 Performed in the Monster Midnight Show to benefit the Florence Mills Memorial Fund, February 18, 1930"Display Ad 39 -- no Title." The New York Amsterdam News (1922-1938), Feb 12, 1930 Performed at the Apollo, September 1939"Display Ad 79 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1938-1941), Sep 30, 1939, City Edition Returned to the Apollo, June 1940"Ralph Cooper Returning to Apollo Stage Friday." New York Amsterdam News (1938-1941), June 15, 1940, City edition Performed at the Apollo, September 1940Burley, Dan. "Apollo's Reopening Features Leslie's 'Rhapsody in Black': Apollo's Opening Ritzy." New York Amsterdam News (1938-1941), Sep 07, 1940, City edition Performed with Ovie Alston and his band at the West End Theatre, October 25, 1940"Display Ad 89 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1938-1941), Oct 26, 1940, City Edition Duke Ellington's Jump for Joy, 1941 Performed at the Rhumboogie Cafe, May 1942 Performed with Erskine Hawkin's Orchestra at Apollo Theater, June/July 1942"Hawkins Ork at Apollo." New York Amsterdam Star-News (1941-1943), Jun 27, 1942 Performed with Billy Eckstine's band in which he did a soft shoe routine that went with clarinet and piano, 1944 Performed at the Club Baron, 1946"Dan Butley's BACK DOOR STUFF: More on Songwriters and Maestros." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), April 13, 1946, City edition Performed at Club 845, March 1947"Display Ad 104 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), March 15, 1947, City Edition Performed at the Apollo, June 1947"Display Ad 118 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), June 14, 1947, City edition Performed at Club 845, January 1948"Display Ad 103 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), January 10, 1948, City Edition Performed at Club Ebony, March–April 1948"Display Ad 122 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), March 27, 1948, City Edition Starred in the Harlem division of the Cancer Committee’s show, May 1948"Top Stars Featured for Cancer Committee's show." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), May 8, 1948, City edition Performed at Club 845, March 1949"Display Ad 117 -- no Title." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), March 12, 1949, City Edition Performed in the Mount Vernon Camp Fund Benefit (in Mount Vernon, for the West Side YMCA), July 1950"Mt. Vernon Camp Fund Benefit Draws Top Stars to Aid Kids: A Super Hit show at Mt. Vernon for the West Side Camp Fund." New York Amsterdam News (1943-1961), July 8, 1950, City edition