Frank Gatson Jr.
Frank Gatson Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frank Gatson Jr. October 4 Louisiana (born) Milwaukee, Wisconsin (origin) |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA) University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | Creative director, Director, Choreographer and Manager |
| Years active | 1980s—present |
| Career | |
| Former groups | Alvin Ailey Dance, Broadway Dance Centre, Up With People Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. |
Frank Gatson Jr. is an American director and choreographer.
He is the creative director for En Vogue, Brandy, Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, Jussie Smollett, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé, a position he has held since her tenure with Destiny's Child.[1] He has also choreographed videos, routines and live performances for other artists including R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, TLC, En Vogue, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Destiny's Child, Little Mix, Toni Braxton and Usher.[2][3][4] Additionally, he served as choreographer for Disney's animated film Hercules, providing choreography for The Muses.
In 2016, he hosted BET's Chasing Destiny alongside Kelly Rowland. The pair formed a R&B girl group June's Diary who he now manages. Frank Gatson Jr. was manager for Luke James and Tyrese Gibson.
Early career
Gatson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1980 and began dancing for Up With People, an organization that travelled the globe performing at all various kinds of venues even appearing at several Super Bowl halftime performances. Eventually, he worked his way up to official 'dance captain' and began to manage the show itself. He later moved to New York to study at the 'Broadway Dance Center' and 'Alvin Ailey Dance Center'. After finishing his time at Ailey and Broadway Centers he returned to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received a Masters in Theatre and Dance. He got his first professional break when he danced in Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" video in 1986.
Work with En Vogue
Music videos
| 1992 | "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 1992 | "Free Your Mind" (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 1993 | "Runaway Love" (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 1994 | "Whatta Man" (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 1996 | "Don't Let Go (Love)" (as creative director) | [5] |
| 1997 | "Whatever" (as choreographer | [5] |
| 1997 | "Too Gone, Too Long" (as creative director) | [5] |
| 2000 | "Riddle" (as creative director) | [5] |
Work with R. Kelly
Music videos
| 2008 | Skin (as choreographer) | [6] |
| 2012 | Feelin' Single (as choreographer and dancer) | [7] |
Tours and live performances
- Down Low Top Secret Tour (1996) (as director and choreographer)
- 39th Annual Grammy Awards (1998) (as choreographer)
- Get Up On a Room Tour (1999) (as director and choreographer)
- Usher Raymond w/ Puffy “No Way Out Tour” (1998) (as director and choreographer)
- TP-2.COM Tour (2001) (as choreographer)
- 2005 MTV VMA's (2005) (as choreographer)
- 2013 Beyonce's Super Bowl XLVII Halftime show (as creative director and choreographer)
- 2015 Soul Train Awards (2015) (as choreographer)
- The Buffet Tour (2016) (as director and choreographer)
Work with Beyoncé
Music videos
| 2003 | Crazy in Love (as choreographer) | [6] |
| 2003 | Baby Boy (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2003 | Me, Myself and I (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2005 | Check on It (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2006 | Ring the Alarm (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2006 | Green Light (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2006 | Irreplaceable (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2006 | Upgrade U (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2007 | Suga Mama (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2007 | Freakum Dress (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2009 | Ego (as director, creative director and choreographer) | [8] |
| 2009 | Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (as creative director and choreographer) | [9] |
| 2009 | If I Were A Boy (as a choreographer) | [5] |
| 2009 | Diva (as a choreographer) | [5] |
| 2011 | Move Your Body (as choreographer) | [10] |
| 2011 | Run The World (Girls) (as choreographer) | [11] |
| 2011 | Countdown (as choreographer) | [12] |
Tours and live performances
- The Beyoncé Experience (2007) (as show director, creative director and choreographer)[13]
- I Am... World Tour (2009) (as director, creative director and choreographer)
- The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013) (as director, creative director and choreographer)[14]
Commercials
- True Star (2004)
- Samsung (2007)
- Armani Diamonds (2007)
- American Express (2007)
- L'Oreal (2007)
- L'Oreal (2003) (with Jennifer Lopez)
- Stella Rosa (2022) Brandy
Source:[5]
Work with Usher
Music videos
| 1997 | You Make Me Wanna... (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 1997 | My Way (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2001 | You Remind Me (as choreographer) | [5] |
| 2008 | Love in This Club (as choreographer and creative director) | [5] |
| 2008 | Moving Mountains (as creative director) | [5] |
Tours and live performances
- Share My World Tour (1997) (creative director)
- No Way Out Tour (1997) (as choreographer)
- 8701 Promo Tour (2001) (creative director)
- One Night, One Star: Usher Live Showtime Special w/ Beyoncé (2005) (as choreographer)
References
- ^ "Leave It On The Floor – Production Team". ballmusical.com. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Gatson Jr., Frank (June 26, 2009). "Remembering Michael: Frank Gaston Jr". Time. Time Inc. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ La Rocco, Claudia (September 5, 2007). "For Pop Stars, Big Reputations Can Rest on the Smallest of Movements". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Duff, Seamus (2020-06-06). "Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock breaks down in emotional video about racism". mirror. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Frank Gatson – Resume" (PDF). chokolate.tv. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "FRANK GATSON JR". chocolate.tv. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ "FRANK GATSON JR". chocolate.tv. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ^ Andre (July 5, 2009). "Beyonce Knowles Shows Off Her Big 'Ego'". On The Fix (Entertainment News & Stuff). Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Cairns, Dan (May 10, 2009). "YouTube plays part in Beyoncé Knowles' life". The Times. News Corporation. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ Nicole James (April 27, 2011). "Beyonce Is The Hottest Aerobics Instructor EVER In 'Move Your Body' Video". MTV Networks. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (May 19, 2011). "Beyoncé 'Nailed It' in 'Girls' Video, Choreographer Says". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
- ^ "Best Choreography (MTV VMAs)". MTV Networks. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Knowles, Beyoncé (2007). Official The Beyoncé Experience World Tour Program. USA: Columbia Records.
- ^ Knowles, Beyoncé (2013). Official The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Program. USA.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- FRANK GATSON Jr. - Bio, Chokolate
- Choreographer returns home to celebrate Jackson, North Division, Journal Sentinel, 26 February 2010
External links
| Studio albums | |||||
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| Concert tours | |||||
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| Related articles | |||||
