Cholly Atkins
| Cholly Atkins | |
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| Born | Charles Sylvan Atkinson September 13, 1913 Pratt City, Alabama, USA |
| Died | April 19, 2003 (aged 89) Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Occupation | Choreographer, dancer |
| Spouse | Maye Atkins (?-2003) Dottie Saulters (1962†) Catherine Atkins (div) |
Charles “Cholly” Atkins (13 September 1913 – 19 April 2003) was an American dancer and vaudeville performer, who later became noted as the house choreographer for the various artists on the Motown label.
[edit] Biography
Born Charles Sylvan Atkinson, a native of Pratt City, Alabama, Atkins first found fame as one-half of a top vaudeville tap dancing act with partner Charles "Honi" Coles. After working as a freelance choreographer for The Miracles, Atkins was hired by Berry 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 like The Supremes, The Temptations (Atkins was also featured in the video for their hit single "Lady Soul"), The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips and others. 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 of The Cadillacs in the 1950s, and the Sylvers and The O'Jays during the mid-1970s. He also worked with Detroit rock band DC Drive and is featured in the "You Need Love" video.
In 1989, Atkins received a Tony Award for choreographing the Broadway show Black and Blue. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2003, Atkins died of the cancer several weeks later on April 19, 2003 Las Vegas, Nevada at 89.
[edit] References
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This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2009) |
- Vance Holmes (2008). "Charles "Cholly" Atkins". American Dance Legends. TheatreDance.com. http://www.theatredance.com/legends/atkins.html. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- Douglas Martin (2003-04-23). "Cholly Atkins, 89, Dancer and Choreographer". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFD6113AF930A15757C0A9659C8B63. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
[edit] External links
- "Cholly Atkins". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7377706. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- Cholly Atkins at the Internet Broadway Database
- Cholly Atkins at the Internet Movie Database
- The Sylvers performing Boogie Fever and discussing Cholly Atkins' choreography of the number
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