Billy Higgins (vaudeville)
| Billy Higgins | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Weldon Higgins |
| Also known as | Jazz Caspar |
| Born |
June 9, 1888 Columbia, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | April 19, 1937 (aged 48) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Vaudeville, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | c.1908–1930s |
| Associated acts |
Josie Miles Viola McCoy Kitty Brown |
William Weldon "Billy" Higgins (June 9, 1888 – April 19, 1937) was an American vaudeville entertainer, comedian, singer and songwriter — critically acclaimed, and is historically chronicled, as one of the most popular stage comedians of the 1920s. Langston Hughes named him as one of the "Golden Dozen" black comedians. On various recordings of the 1920s, Higgins used the pseudonym Jazz Caspar (aka Casper).
Higgins was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He was African American and often worked in blackface. He began his career in 1912 as a singer of ballads at private clubs in is hometown of Columbia. Before that, he had been a machinist. Sometime around 1913, he joined Billy King, a widely popular comedian and producer of touring theatrical revues. Higgins co-starred with King in the show Two Bills from Alaska. Higgins performed with King until 1917, when he entered the U.S. Army during World War I.
During World War I, Higgins was assigned to the 805th Pioneer Infantry, an African American regiment of 2,810 men comprising 14 Companies and a Medical Detachment. The regiment was nicknamed "Bearcats." Higgins quickly established himself as a performer at Camp Funston's Detention Camp No. 2, where he was first assigned, and where all new recruits were sent to be cleared by Army medics of any communicable viruses or diseases. The Bearcat Entertainers were assigned to Headquarters Company. The 805th Pioneer Infantry was assigned to Europe to support the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which began September 26, 1918. The organization participated for 39 days — from October 3, 1918, to November 11, 1918 — when the Armistice was signed.
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