Hollywood Truth or Myth: Did Michael Jackson Invent the Moonwalk?

The short answer to this question is no. Though Jackson popularized and transformed the move, he did not originate it. The first known recording of the move was in 1955, when tap dancer Bill Bailey performed it on television. It may date back even further though. Watch the first clip below to see Jackson perform the moonwalk for the first time in 1983 at Motown 25. In the second clip, he discusses the origin of the moonwalk. At the very end of the third clip, you will see Bill Bailey perform the moonwalk, or as he liked to call it, the “backslide.”

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