Timmie Rogers

(Jul. 4, 1915, Detroit, MI - Dec. 17, 2006, Los Angeles, CA)

Timothy Louis Ancrum first enjoyed a successful career as one half of an acrobatic dance team “Timmie and Freddie.” In the mid 1940s, he became a pioneer black entertainment business appearing on stage wearing a tuxedo doing sophisticated comedy when blacks were still expected to portray a stereotyped role. “Oh, Yeah!” was his trademark line. He is also known as the composer of “If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes, Please Don’t Cry and Say No” (for Nat King Cole), “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, But Nobody Wants To Die (for Tommy Dorsey), and others.

Last updated: January 13, 2008

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