Like a famous "Mr." of song, it was the nickname of tap dancer Bill Robinson
[DOC] [TLE] Mystery of "Mr. Bojangles" - listserv.linguistlist.org Mailing Lists [PAR] Oct 7, 2007 ... Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878-1949) was a famous Harlem dancer; although 
the song "Mr. Bojangles" is not ...