The song “Mr. Bojangles” was written by American singer‑songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker.

Who wrote “Mr. Bojangles”?

  • Jerry Jeff Walker (born Ronald Clyde Crosby) wrote and originally recorded “Mr. Bojangles” in the late 1960s.
  • The song first appeared on his 1968 album also titled Mr. Bojangles.
  • It later became widely known through covers by artists like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Sammy Davis Jr., but the original writer is Jerry Jeff Walker.

Quick Scoop: Story behind it

  • Walker said he was inspired by a street performer he met in a New Orleans jail in 1965, a man who called himself “Mr. Bojangles” to hide his real identity.
  • The song tells a bittersweet story of that man’s life, losses, and his tap‑dancing, which gives it its wistful, nostalgic tone that fans still discuss in music forums today.

TL;DR: Jerry Jeff Walker wrote “Mr. Bojangles”; the famous later versions are covers of his original 1968 song.

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