Born in Richmond, Virginia, United States,[1] Dandridge began performing in 1918 as a pianist in a revue entitled The Drake and Walker Show.
In 1930, he worked as accompanist for tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson,[1] including appearances in the musical Brown Buddies.
[3] In the 1932 American film Harlem Is Heaven, Dandridge, on the piano and reciting lyrics in a "speak set", accompanies Robinson as the dancer sings "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't".
After touring in Illinois and the Great Lakes region, Dandridge settled in Cleveland, Ohio, forming a band with guitarist Lonnie Johnson.
From 1935 to 1936, he recorded numerous sides under his own name, many of which highlighted some major jazz talents of the period, including Roy Eldridge, Teddy Wilson, Henry "Red" Allen, Buster Bailey, John Kirby, Chu Berry, Cozy Cole and more.