The dance move and mashed potato song were first made famous by James Brown in 1959 and used in his concerts regularly.
The move vaguely resembles that of the twist, by Sharp's fellow Philadelphian Chubby Checker.
The dance was first popularized internationally after being named in the lyrics of Motown's first mega-hit in the song "Do You Love Me" written by Berry Gordy Jr. and performed by The Contours in 1962.
The dance was also referred to in Connie Francis' 1962 hit "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N" ("...we'll Mashed Potato to a jukebox tune..."), "Do You Love Me" by the Contours, "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez, "Harry the Hairy Ape" a 1963 Top-20 pop and R&B novelty hit by Ray Stevens, "Land of a Thousand Dances", "Having a Party" by Sam Cooke, "Do the Strand" by Roxy Music and in Ray Charles' version of "Shake a Tail Feather".
The dance was one of the inspirations for the Exodus song "The Toxic Waltz", from their 1989 album Fabulous Disaster.