Tanqueray

May 30, 2022
Two years after Johnson shared her story on Stanton’s popular Instagram account Humans of New York, she commands the spotlight again in this hypnotizing account of her past as a Black burlesque dancer. Of their first encounter in 2020, Stanton writes in the foreword that the septuagenarian immediately captivated him—and later more than three million Instagram users—with tales of dancing in New York City in the 1970s under her stage name, Tanqueray. With help from Stanton, Johnson returns to those stories to bare it all on the page. Recalling the many travails she faced before finally running away to New York City, Johnson details her childhood growing up with an abusive mother in 1940s Albany, N.Y.; a teenage pregnancy with a married man; and a prison stint for burglary. Forced to give up the baby for adoption, Johnson moved to the city with dreams of dancing on Broadway and eventually started performing in adult theaters. Johnson’s storytelling skills are undeniable as she dispenses tantalizing anecdotes, from bumping elbows with James Brown to hustling side gigs, like sewing custom sequined G-strings from dental floss. While her exploits are titillating, Johnson reminds readers that “underneath all the laughs and the gags, it was always about one thing: survival.” This has it all: humor, intrigue, and heart.

Starred review from December 1, 2022

When Johnson's story first appeared on the photoblog Humans of New York in 2019, it was an immediate sensation. Born in Albany, NY, in the 1940s, Johnson was kicked out of her home at age 17, when she became pregnant. After a brief stint in jail, she made her way to New York City, where she flourished first as a go-go dancer and then as a burlesque entertainer in Times Square. Narrating her own story, Johnson focuses on her career as an entertainer, where she was first relegated to second-rate clubs because of her race. But she soon used her talent, drive, and ingenuity to rise to the top. A consummate storyteller, Johnson slowly reveals enticing details about her life, while keeping the listener eager for more. Her husky voice conveys the full gamut of emotion, from joy and delight to pain and regret, and an interview between Johnson and Humans of New York's Brandon Stanton is an excellent addition to the audiobook. VERDICT These bawdy, gritty tales of New York City in the 1960s and 1970s will captivate listeners, but it's Johnson who is the hero of this story. Listeners will relish every minute.--Nanette Donohue

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