Biography
Johnny Diamond rose to prominence as one of the nineteenth century’s foremost dancers after drawing inspiration from Master Juba, the pioneering African-American who first performed the jig on American soil. Early acclaim came from his street performances in New York’s Fly Market, yet national recognition followed once the noted impresario P. T. Barnum took him under his wing. Around 1840 Diamond made his formal stage debut at Barnum’s Vauxhall Garden and subsequently joined Barnum on tours across the United States, where he consistently defeated every rival in spirited dance contests. His athletic style kept audiences enthralled for nearly four decades until his death in Philadelphia on October 29, 1885.