Leon Claxton

Claxton was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His father, Overton (O.C.) Claxton, was a drummer who played in W. C. Handy's band. and debuted his first girl show, Hep Cats, in 1936. His Harlem In Havana shows, incorporating music, dancing and comedy, became the main feature of the Royal American Shows, which toured widely in the U.S. and Canada. The shows were performed in Claxton's 1,600-seater tent during the summer season, and in winter played in nightclubs and theaters. It was one of a small number of hotels for African American performers, athletes, and business people in the American South. Claxton won Tampa's Citizen of the Year Award in 1959. Claxton married Gwendolyn Bates in Saskatoon, Canada, in 1938. She became co-producer of his shows. He died in Tampa in 1967. ==Legacy==