Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham was an African American entertainer. Though best known as a comedian, Markham was also a singer, dancer, and actor. His nickname came from a stage routine, in which he declared himself to be "Sweet Poppa Pigmeat".
Dewey Pigmeat Markham was born April 18, 1904 in Durham, North Carolina. His family was the most prominent on their street, which was later officially renamed Markham Street. Running away from home in 1918, Markham began his career in traveling music and burlesque shows. He took up with a white showman he ambiguously referred to over the years as "Mr. Booker" owner of a "gilly carnival."
For a time he was a member of Bessie Smith's Traveling Revue in the 1920s and later appeared on burlesque bills with such comedy legends as Milton Berle, Red Buttons, and Eddie Cantor. He claims to have originated the Truckin' dance which became nationally popular at the start of the 1930s.
Markham performed regularly at New York's famed Apollo Theater where he wore blackface makeup and huge painted white lips, ignoring complaints from Black leaders that it was insulting and degrading. During his long career he appeared at the Apollo more frequently then any other performer. Starting in the 1950s, Pigmeat Markham began working on television, making multiple appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.
His boisterous, "Here come da Judge" routine is what made him famous with both Black and White audiences. Pigmeat Markham would sit at an elevated judge's bench in a black cap-and-gown and riff on a series of comic miscreants. He would often deliver his "judgments," as well as express frustration with the accused, by leaning over the bench and smacking them with an inflated bladder-balloon. He saw "Here come da Judge" become a catch phrase on the Laugh-In television show, along with "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnall's."
Ironically, Markham's "Here come da Judge" routine was "discovered" by the general public only after Sammy Davis, Jr. performed it as a guest on Laugh-In. The success of Davis's performance on Laugh-in led to Markham receiving a one-year contract to perform his signature Judge character on the show. During this period (1968) his song, "Here Come the Judge" peaked at number 19 on the Billboard and other charts and is considered by many in the music industry today to be an early form of rap music. Markham cut a handful of follow-ups, including "Sock It to 'Em, Judge," "The Hip Judge," and "Your Wires Have Been Tapped," but none enjoyed the same success as "Here Come the Judge," and he returned to standup comedy.
After a career that spanned seven decades, Dewey Markham published an autobiography, Here Come the Judge!, in the wake of his Laugh-In success.
Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham died from a stroke on December 13, 1981 in Bronx, New York, Ny.
Markham performed regularly at New York's famed Apollo Theater where he wore blackface makeup and huge painted white lips, ignoring complaints from Black leaders that it was insulting and degrading. During his long career he appeared at the Apollo more frequently then any other performer. Starting in the 1950s, Pigmeat Markham began working on television, making multiple appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.
His boisterous, "Here come da Judge" routine is what made him famous with both Black and White audiences. Pigmeat Markham would sit at an elevated judge's bench in a black cap-and-gown and riff on a series of comic miscreants. He would often deliver his "judgments," as well as express frustration with the accused, by leaning over the bench and smacking them with an inflated bladder-balloon. He saw "Here come da Judge" become a catch phrase on the Laugh-In television show, along with "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnall's."
Ironically, Markham's "Here come da Judge" routine was "discovered" by the general public only after Sammy Davis, Jr. performed it as a guest on Laugh-In. The success of Davis's performance on Laugh-in led to Markham receiving a one-year contract to perform his signature Judge character on the show. During this period (1968) his song, "Here Come the Judge" peaked at number 19 on the Billboard and other charts and is considered by many in the music industry today to be an early form of rap music. Markham cut a handful of follow-ups, including "Sock It to 'Em, Judge," "The Hip Judge," and "Your Wires Have Been Tapped," but none enjoyed the same success as "Here Come the Judge," and he returned to standup comedy.
After a career that spanned seven decades, Dewey Markham published an autobiography, Here Come the Judge!, in the wake of his Laugh-In success.
Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham died from a stroke on December 13, 1981 in Bronx, New York, Ny.
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