Dusty Fletcher

Clinton "Dusty" Fletcher (July 8, 1900 – March 15, 1954) was an African-American vaudeville performer and comedian, who was best known for the comedy routine which became a hit record in 1947, "Open the Door, Richard".

Routine "Open the Door, Richard!" Born in El Dorado, Arkansas,

Revue Fast and Furious In August and September 1931 Clinton (Dusty) Fletcher was one of 90 performers in the all Negro revue, Fast and Furious, produced by Forbes Randolph. The revue was performed at the Brantd's Boulevard Theater and later at the New York Theater on Broadway. Fletcher performed in at least five numbers, Football Game, in which he played the Captain of Lincoln's Team; Ham What Am, in which he played Dusty; Macbeth, in which he played MacDuff; The Silent Bootlegger, in which he played the bootlegger; and in Clinton Dusty Fletcher in which he played himself in his comedy act.

Song and recording "Open the Door, Richard!" In 1946, bandleader Jack McVea fashioned Fletcher's routine into the lyrics of a song, which he recorded with his band. McVea's record became a big hit, and Fletcher, by now semi-retired, was found living in South Carolina by Herb Abramson of National Records. He made his own recording of the song, using McVea's arrangement, which made number 3 on US Billboard R&B chart. It sold in excess of one million copies. The song was also covered by many others including Count Basie, Louis Jordan, and Pigmeat Markham.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) publicly attacked the song, particularly Fletcher's version, for making light of public drunkenness and playing on the stereotype of black men as shiftless and ignorant.

Fletcher continued to perform the routine, particularly at the Apollo Theatre in New York, until shortly before his death.

Family Fletcher had one daughter Helen Fletcher with original Cotton Club dancer Sadie Mae Fletcher. He had two granddaughters.

Filmography Hi De Ho (1947) Boarding House Blues (1948) Killer Diller (1948)