September 10, 2009 For Immediate Release Contact: Bril Barrett c/o M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Inc. Phone: (773) 604-1899 Fax: (773) 604-1898 Email:
[email protected] www.maddrhythms.com THE CHICAGO TAP SUMMIT 5th ANNIVERSARY Celebration “Honoring Chicago’s TAP Legacy” M.A.D.D. Rhythms presents The Chicago Tap Summit; 5th Anniversary Celebration, October 30- November 1, 2009. Many of the worlds most renowned Tap Legends will come together from Canada, New York, St. Louis, Las Vegas, New Jersey and Chicago to teach, perform and celebrate the art of tap dance. This year’s Summit will be dedicated to the late, great Ernest “Brownie” Brown. Ernest “Brownie” Brown was born April 25, 1916 and left for the big show in Heaven on Aug. 21, 2009. At the early age of 11, Ernest “Brownie” Brown ventured off to follow his dream of becoming a dancer and an entertainer. This dream would turn into a career that spanned 80 years. In 1930, Brownie and his childhood friend, Charles “Cookie” Cook formed the dance team Cook & Brown. They headlined in vaudeville theatres throughout the U.S. and in Europe. In 1934, they played The Cotton Club which led to London’s Palladium, The Latin Casino in Paris and The Broadway musical “Kiss Me Kate”. Brownie was also one of the founding members of the original “Copasetics”; an elite tap company formed in 1949 in memory of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. One of his proudest moments was being inducted into the Tap Dance Hall Of Fame. This year’s esteemed honorees include: Dr.