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Cholly Atkins | |
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| Born | Charles Sylvan Atkinson (1913-09-13)September 13, 1913 Pratt City, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 19, 2003(2003-04-19) (aged 89) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Other names | "The Man with the Moves"[1] |
| Occupations | Choreographer,dancer |
| Spouses | Maye Harrison (before 2003) |
| Awards | |
Charles "Cholly" Atkins (bornCharles Sylvan Atkinson; September 13, 1913 – April 19, 2003)[2] was an Americandancer andvaudeville performer, who later became noted as the housechoreographer for the various artists on the labelMotown.[3]
Born inPratt City, Alabama, Cholly began dancing in the late 1930s before his military service in 1942 duringWorld War II. Upon leaving the U.S. Army, he first found fame as one-half of Atkins &Coles, a top vaudevilledance act with partnerCharles "Honi" Coles, debuting at theApollo Theater inHarlem,New York. Atkins and Coles toured extensively nationally and internationally, performing in showcases with major jazz and swing bands, including those led byLouis Armstrong,Charlie Barnet,Count Basie,Cab Calloway, andLionel Hampton. The pair also performed from 1949 to 1952 onBroadway in the stage 4 production,Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.[4]
In the mid-1950s, Cholly began teaching dance steps to theCadillacs,Shirelles,Moonglows,Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers,Little Anthony & The Imperials, and other vocal groups.[5][6] His dance steps were a new style coined "vocal choreography", as singers enhanced their vocal performances with stylish combinations of gestures and steps. After working as a freelance choreographer in 1962 forThe Miracles, Atkins was hired byBerry Gordy to work as a Motown choreographer in 1964, and set about developing the routines that would later become the trademark moves of other Motown acts likeThe Supremes,The Temptations (Atkins was also featured in the video for their hit single "Lady Soul"),The Four Tops,The Marvelettes,Gladys Knight & the Pips and others.[7] Atkins would, in fact, continue working with Motown artists well into the 1980s. He choreographed for non-Motown artists as well, namely the dance routines ofThe Cadillacs in the 1950s, andthe Sylvers, as well asThe O'Jays during the mid-1970s, appearing with them on an episode ofSoul Train.[8][9] He also worked with Detroit rock band DC Drive and is featured in the "You Need Love" video.
In 1989, Atkins received aTony Award for choreographing the Broadway showBlack and Blue. He also accepted a 1993National Endowment for the Arts three-year fellowship to tour colleges and universities teaching vocal choreography. He continued to teach dance in Las Vegas until February 2003.
Diagnosed withpancreatic cancer in March 2003, Atkins died of the cancer several weeks later on April 19, 2003, inLas Vegas, Nevada. He was 89.
Marriages
The O'Jays practice a dance routine with choreographer Cholly Atkins (Charlie Atkins/Charles Atkins) on Soul Train episode 153, aired 10/11/1975. (Photo by Soul Train via Getty Images).
