By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 04:13 pm:

A friend of mine told me that Cholly Atkins the great choreographer of Motown and other great acts over the last 50 years is seriously ill. We should keep him in our prayers and thoughts. I was wondering whether anyone had any stories about this important and innovative man.

By Clay (66.73.177.79) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 02:15 am:

My prayers go out to Charlie and his family. Charlie
has got to be one of the nicest people on the planet.
The last time I saw Charlie was in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace with the Temps about 5yrs ago and it was great hanging out with him. They don't make dance
masters like CHARLIE anymore, he taught so many so much. Peace

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 02:38 am:

CHOLLY ATKINS WAS THE "MASTER" OF DANCE AND CHORIGRAPHY FOR ALL OF THE MOTOWN ACTS...AND HIS PATENTED TEMPTATION ROUTINES BECAME A LARGE PART OF THE TEMPTATION'S MYSTIQUE!!!...JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW MOTOWN RECORDS GOT JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ROUND OUT AND POLISH UP THEIR ACTS WHICH THRUST THOSE ACTS...AND THE COMPANY... INTO THE MAINSTREAM ELITE!!!...STU

By David Meikle (81.135.32.241) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 03:38 am:

When I first took an interest in Cholly I was surprised to find a pre-Motown cv which was quite superlative.

I hope he pulls through this.

Thanks for advising the forum Cleo.

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 08:11 am:

I visited Cholly at his Vegas home about 15 months ago.
He has a den that is stacked to the roof with memorabelia. He was one of the nicest men I have ever met. When I took an interest in all his back stage passes, he just gave me a Temptations tour stage pass.
I nearly cried in disbelief.
I do hope he recovers and will ask his close friend (Lou Ragland) for an update on his condition later today.

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:35 am:

I asked my Vegas contacts about Cholly and it seems he is so unwell his wife has even banned any friends from visiting him at the monent.

I pray he gets stronger very quickly and is soon back to his old self.

By Vickie (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 12:00 am:

My prayers go out to Cholly and his family at this time...

Vickie

By stephanie (64.63.221.181) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:58 pm:

Pray for Cholly Atkins everybody
Stephanie

By Marcia (64.241.194.173) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 06:51 pm:

My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Cholly Atkins.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 07:23 pm:

Hang in there Cholly. My prayers are with you.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 08:52 pm:

If we ever needed Cholly Atkins to show today's so-called "entertainers" how to really perform, it is now.
Get well soon, Mr. Atkins!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Linda Di. (66.24.88.73) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 10:09 pm:

Back in the mid 70s, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Willie Tyler and Lester performed at Melody Fair, which is outside of Buffalo. Mr. Cholly Atkins was present at the show. We talked after the show. It was a total joy to spend time with and listen to some of his stories. I pray he gets well soon!

By Nancy (24.101.72.243) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 06:19 am:

Cholly you are in my prayers

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 06:59 am:

Mr. Atkins - get well soon. You are in our thoughts.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 11:43 am:

THERE WERE NOT TOO MANY GROUPS IN THE 50'S,60'S,70'S AND 80'S THAT DIDN'T WORK WITH OR AT LEAST TRY TO WORK WITH THE GREAT CHOLLY ATKINS.GET WELL SOON SIR!

By Sly fan (67.115.73.133) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:25 pm:

To The King...

Mr. Atkins..You ARE the epitome of the word CLASS, get well soon sir..My thoughts and prayers are with you.

By Eli (64.12.97.7) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:37 pm:

In the movie "The Five Heartbeats", the part played by the late Fayard Nicholas was loosely based on a Cholly Atkins type insofar as teaching the group their choreography was concerned.

BTW..The choreography generally used by all of the famous Black vocal groups is derived from
"stepping" which is a cultural phenomenon developed by "Greeks" ie the Black college fraternities as a competitive thing.
As far as the singing groups go, the competitive nature still prevailed.

The other great choreography man was Lon Fontaine, who the Tempts later used especially during the Damon Harris years.
In fact, when we went into rehearsals for Impact's first gigs, Lon was clled in to do the "steps".
Most if not all groups of the day referred to it as "steps', and not choreography.

By Sly fan (67.115.73.133) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 07:40 pm:

HEY Eli!! Thats very interesting because the moves are very "step" friendly..wow!! I was always curious about that. Thank you for the information!!

Is Lon Fontaine still around?