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Born in New York City in 1922, Briggs started performing as a young child. He later appeared with the big bands of the '40s and '50s and worked with such greats as Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, dancing with equal aplomb to swing, bop and traditional jazz.

In the '60s, he became known as "Duke's Dancer" for his extensive work with Duke Ellington. He appeared on numerous television programs, including "The Ed Sullivan Show," and toured the U.S. and Europe. Briggs also danced in the Broadway shows My One and Only (1983) and Black and Blue (1989), for which he received a Tony nomination. That same year, he appeared as an "old-timer" in the 1989 film Tap. In 2002, Briggs received an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma City University.

Of Briggs' inimitable style, it has been said, "He floats over the floor. The melodies he played with his feet were so delicate, so crisp and clear. He was telling a story; it was more than just rhythms. There's an old poster advertising one of his gigs that calls him 'The Prince Charming of Tap Dance.' That's perfect."

From an interview with Mr. Bunny Briggs: "I started when I was a baby. When I was a child [babies] were dancing all over the place! I would dance the blues, do the shimmy, the Charleston-things like that. I didn't do any tap dancing until I saw Bill Robinson when I was about 3 years old.

I started performing tap in the street. The record store used to put the "Amos n' Andy" show on the loudspeaker so people in the street could stop and listen to it. The owners would say, "Bunny, as soon as 'Amos n' Andy' goes off, we'll put a record on and you start dancing." And that's what I did. People would throw money at me and I'd take it home to my mother, which I was very happy to do. I was around 5 or 6.

Next thing I knew, Luckey Roberts was in my house talking to my mother, and I was working with his orchestra, Luckey Roberts and his Society Entertainers. We went into houses of the blue bloods: the Astors, the Wanamakers, the Fords, the DuPonts. It was excellent. All I could smell was gardenias and champagne. They bought me toys, they sent my mother all kinds of gifts-the apartment filled up.

The first stage show I did was with Cab Galloway at the Harlem Opera House, when I was 10 or 11, but I had stage fright. The music played but I just froze. I didn't care; I just went on to work at different places. I worked in nightclubs until the children's society said I was too young, and I had to quit and go to school.

The first time I watched Bill Robinson, I went home and said, "Mother, I want to be a tap dancer, just like him." He was my idol. His taps were just clear. He made everything look like it was nothing. I wanted to be like him. I would dance as relaxed as I could, like he did, but I would never do any of his steps.

I saw Henry LeTang at the Lincoln Theater. I liked the way Pops and Louie walked on the stage, so I got my walk from them. I saw a lady in the movies who sang but never moved. I thought I could put that in my dancing; I'd just stand in one spot with just my feet going.

When I walk onstage, I have no plan at all. The only time I had to be disciplined is when I went into the show "My One and Only"-I wasn't used to that. In Black and Blue, the choreographer said to me, "Bunny, you do what you want to do." I felt very proud of that.

I never tried to give my combinations names. One writer from the The New Yorker explained everything I did, and I thought, "Did I do that?" You can ask any jazz musician, "What was that you just played?" and he'll tell you he doesn't know because he's playing right off the cuff. All I know is improvisation.

I love the audience. I appreciate them coming in, spending their money to look at you. So you give them the best you possibly can. You have to learn your audience. I can walk in and tell you what kind of audience it is, what kind of dance to do. You can work an audience, but you have to know how to work them, not overdo it. An audience is delicate."

In 2006, legendary tap dancer Bunny Briggs was inducted into The International Tap Dance Hall of Fame.