About Jimmy Tate

LOCAL MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Jimmy has been a profession singer since the summer of 1979. In the midst of a long and diverse theatrical career, Jimmy Picked up guitar in the mid-80’s. After years of stage performing, and teaching dance, Jimmy began an entertainment career of performing cover songs. His rich Broadway trained voice has graced most Country Clubs in the Westchester and Connecticut area. Over 30 years experience now, Jimmy covers over 1000 popular songs, and his thundering chord accompanying is regularly heard at parties, clubs, and various local music venues.

DANCE CAREER

Jimmy Tate began his tap career in the Broadway musical, “The Tap Dance Kid,” where he ultimately played the title role. Shortly after the run, Jimmy studied and performed with Tony award-winning choreographer Henry LeTang. After graduating Sarah Lawrence College, Jimmy danced in Jelly’s Last Jam with Gregory Hines, Ben Vereen, and Savion Glover. After a Broadway run and his first national tour of Jelly’s, Jimmy found himself as an original member of the multi-Tony award-winning tap show, “Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk,” where he again danced with Glover and eventually performed Savion’s leading role in Noise/Funk’s first national tour. Jimmy has danced for the Grammy awards, Drama Desk Awards, Kennedy Center Honors, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, Late Night with David Letterman, twice for the Tony Awards, and three times on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Jimmy won a Best Choreography Award for his work in the NYC Fringe Festival show “Thunder,” and an Ovation Award for his work on the Noise/Funk tour.

Jimmy has been teaching tap for 23 years, including many years of classes at Steps and the Broadway Dance Center. He has taught and judged for Dance Masters of Canada, Showstopper Dance Competition, Stepp With Me Dance Competition, and New York City Dance Alliance. In addition to teaching master classes and doing competition choreography all over the country, Jimmy has taught for Tap City in NY, Lisa Hopkins’ “Tap Kids,” and the Columbus Tap Festival. Jimmy recently performed at a show in Switzerland, “The Gangs of New York” with Derick Grant; danced at the 2014 Super Bowl pre-game show at the Izod Center; and danced in tribute to Tony award-winning choreographer Danny Daniels with Dule Hill and Jason Samuels Smith at the New York City Center.