Hand jive
Encyclopedia
The Hand jive is a dance particularly associated with rock and roll
and rhythm and blues
music of the 1950s. It involves a complicated pattern of hand moves and claps at various parts of the body, following and/or imitating the percussion instrument
s. It resembles a highly elaborate version of Pat-a-cake. Hand moves include thigh slapping, cross-wrist slapping, fist pounding, hand clapping, and hitch hike
moves.
In 1957 when film-maker Ken Russell
was a freelance photographer, he recorded the teenagers of Soho
, London hand-jiving in the basement of The Cat's Whisker
coffee bar, where the hand-jive was invented. According to an article in the Daily Mirror, "it's so crowded the girls hand-jive to the band as there's no room for dancing." Russell told interviewer Leo Benedictus of The Guardian
that "the place was crowded with young kids... the atmosphere was very jolly. Wholesome... everyone jiving with their hands because there was precious little room to do it with their feet... a bizarre sight. The craze fascinated me. It seemed like a strange novelty; I used to join in."
The hand-jive was particularly popularized by Johnny Otis
's 1958 hit "Willie and the Hand Jive". Miles Davis
has a track named "Hand Jive" on his album "Nefertiti" from 1967. Eric Clapton
did a version of the Johnny Otis song in 1974 that reached the Top 40. The hand jive is also featured prominently in the Broadway musical Grease
through the song "Born to Hand Jive"; in the movie adaptation of the musical, the song is performed by Sha Na Na
. On a DVD audio commentary for the movie, choreographer Patricia Birch
mentions that the dance also went by the much more risque name "hand job", but the title was changed as Grease was aimed at a family audience. The long-running Walt Disney World show Festival of the Lion King
uses this during the song "Hakuna Matata," and the performers and audience do it while singing the song. The audience is taught the hand jive some time before the show begins.
Additionally, "Willie and the Hand Jive" was played on several occasions by the Grateful Dead
and also by the New Riders of the Purple Sage
with Jerry Garcia
, Sony, 1972
This song exhibited the Bo Diddley
beat, a rhythm that originated in Latin music and brought into mainstream American music by Bo Diddley
. It has since influenced generations of musicians.
George Thorogood
and the Delaware Destroyers recorded a version of the song and a music video.
Laurin Rinder & W. Michael Lewis made a disco version of "Willie and the Hand Jive" for their 1979 album Warriors.
The term is also used by some jugglers in reference to certain hand motions in the Mills Mess
juggling
pattern.
In recent years, the dance has been utilized for accompaniment with the Gorilla Zoe track "Hood Nigga."
The song was also a considerable hit in Britain for Cliff Richard and the Drifters (later Shadows)
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
and rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
music of the 1950s. It involves a complicated pattern of hand moves and claps at various parts of the body, following and/or imitating the percussion instrument
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
s. It resembles a highly elaborate version of Pat-a-cake. Hand moves include thigh slapping, cross-wrist slapping, fist pounding, hand clapping, and hitch hike
Hitch hike (dance)
Hitch hike was a dance craze of 1960s. It started with the 1963 Marvin Gaye's hit "Hitch Hike" and refueled with the gold disc of Vanity Fare, "Hitchin' a Ride" ....
moves.
In 1957 when film-maker Ken Russell
Ken Russell
Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism as being obsessed with sexuality and the church...
was a freelance photographer, he recorded the teenagers of Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London hand-jiving in the basement of The Cat's Whisker
The Cat's Whisker
The Cat's Whisker was a coffee bar situated at 1 Kingly Street, Soho, London, during the mid-late 1950s. It offered London youngsters Spanish dancing, live rock 'n roll, and skiffle....
coffee bar, where the hand-jive was invented. According to an article in the Daily Mirror, "it's so crowded the girls hand-jive to the band as there's no room for dancing." Russell told interviewer Leo Benedictus of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
that "the place was crowded with young kids... the atmosphere was very jolly. Wholesome... everyone jiving with their hands because there was precious little room to do it with their feet... a bizarre sight. The craze fascinated me. It seemed like a strange novelty; I used to join in."
The hand-jive was particularly popularized by Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis is an American singer, musician, talent scout, disc jockey, composer, arranger, recording artist, record producer, vibraphonist, drummer, percussionist, bandleader, and impresario.He is commonly referred to as The Godfather Of Rhythm And Blues.-Personal life:Otis, the son of Alexander...
's 1958 hit "Willie and the Hand Jive". Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
has a track named "Hand Jive" on his album "Nefertiti" from 1967. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
did a version of the Johnny Otis song in 1974 that reached the Top 40. The hand jive is also featured prominently in the Broadway musical Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
through the song "Born to Hand Jive"; in the movie adaptation of the musical, the song is performed by Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
. On a DVD audio commentary for the movie, choreographer Patricia Birch
Patricia Birch
Patricia Birch is an American choreographer and director for musical theatre and film.Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Birch began her career as a dancer in Broadway musicals, including Brigadoon, Goldilocks, and West Side Story . She has directed and choreographed music videos for Cyndi Lauper, the...
mentions that the dance also went by the much more risque name "hand job", but the title was changed as Grease was aimed at a family audience. The long-running Walt Disney World show Festival of the Lion King
Festival of the Lion King
Festival of the Lion King, an original interpretation of the Disney animated film The Lion King, is a live stage musical performed in Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida and in Adventureland at Hong Kong Disneyland...
uses this during the song "Hakuna Matata," and the performers and audience do it while singing the song. The audience is taught the hand jive some time before the show begins.
Additionally, "Willie and the Hand Jive" was played on several occasions by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
and also by the New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage
New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco, California in 1969, and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. Their best known song is "Panama Red"...
with Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, Sony, 1972
This song exhibited the Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
beat, a rhythm that originated in Latin music and brought into mainstream American music by Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
. It has since influenced generations of musicians.
George Thorogood
George Thorogood
George Thorogood is an American blues rock vocalist/guitarist from Wilmington, Delaware, United States, known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone" as well as for covers of blues standards such as Hank Williams' "Move It On Over" and John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One...
and the Delaware Destroyers recorded a version of the song and a music video.
Laurin Rinder & W. Michael Lewis made a disco version of "Willie and the Hand Jive" for their 1979 album Warriors.
The term is also used by some jugglers in reference to certain hand motions in the Mills Mess
Mills Mess
In juggling, the Mills Mess is a popular toss juggling pattern, typically performed with three balls although the number and objects can be different...
juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
pattern.
In recent years, the dance has been utilized for accompaniment with the Gorilla Zoe track "Hood Nigga."
The song was also a considerable hit in Britain for Cliff Richard and the Drifters (later Shadows)