The Four Step Brothers

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The Four Step Brothers were an African-American dance group. The group started out as a trio in 1925, with the original members, Maceo Anderson, Al Williams and Red Walker. Although their original name was the Step Brothers, because that was also the name of another famous young tap dancing quartet, they subsequently changed their name to "The Three Step Brothers." In 1927, after accepting a new member, Sherman Robertson, they became The Four Step Brothers. Dubbed "The Eight Feet of Rhythm," the group soon traveled with Duke Ellington. While starring with the "Brothers," Anderson also appeared at the Hoofer Club and worked part-time as a newsboy.

The "Brothers" incorporated Snake Hips, Camel Walks, 5 tap Wings, Slides, Afro-Cuban Movements, Rhythm Tap, The Strut straight Acrobatics, etc. They would not change their dance steps except to make them better or when incorporating new dancers.

In 1950, they appeared on Milton Berle's Texaco Theater over the objections of the show's sponsor. Berle wrote in his autobiography:

The group became known for their complex dance routines, in which they frequently danced without musical accompaniment. In 1957, the "Brothers" appeared on the ABC variety program The Guy Mitchell Show. They would become one of the longest-lasting dance groups, surviving for more than four decades into the 1960s.

The Dance Masters of America awarded the group with the Life Achievement award in 1960, and again in 1985 for helping to break the color barrier. In 1988, they received their own "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

There were several other Step Brothers when Prince Spencer left the group. Before his Step Brother days, Edward Bozeman danced professionally under the name of "Prince." In 1964, when "Prince" Spencer left the Step Brothers to go into the grocery business in Chicago, the name of his replacement was not the only coincidence. Like Spencer, Bozeman did the acrobatics and flips part of the routine and always danced last, in the same spot that Spencer had held. Step Brother Flash McDonald said at the time, "Let him be himself, instead of doing Prince's (Spencer's) routines." They all agreed. "They thought I was a kid, but I was 35," Bozeman recalled. Although there is very rare footage of Edward Bozeman performing with the Four Step Brothers, he performed with them from 1964 up to the disbandment of the group in 1989-1990.

Subsequent to the addition of Bozeman, there was one other dancer who, essentially, may be considered the "final" addition to the famous dance quartet's immediate family. In 1968, a ten-year-old, acrobatic ball of energy, named Terry Criner was brought on at the very end of the quartet's already superior performance. The four would simultaneously point towards stage right and Little Terry dashed onto the stage--with a series of acrobatic moves. His routine was very similar to Bozeman's, however; the kid added head spins, somersaults, no-hand head flip--all done with lightning speed. Several newspapers described him as a blur. Criner, who courageously followed Bozeman, was up to the task and was acknowledged by the group's charter members as a "great addition."

Terry Criner was a fourth-grade elementary student when he was honored to share the stage with some of the greatest dancers in tap history. Although a novice in the art of tap dancing, his acrobatic-dance skills combined landed him into a unique place in history. Criner was the protégé of Maceo E. Anderson, one of the original members. Criner simultaneously toured with the Step Brothers and opened as a solo act for Donald O'Connor for nearly three years. He eventually agreed with Maceo Anderson's idea of starting a new group called that 4 Steps and a Miss, which eventually became the Third Generation Steps. The group went on to successes of its own.

In 1979, after eleven years of a rather successful show business stent, the twenty-one year old Criner shocked Maceo Anderson and group members Cindy Notz and Ivery Wheeler by announcing his retirement--at the peak of the group's success. In 1980, Criner entered into the gospel ministry. He would later add United States Marine, New Teacher of the Year at the Intermediate Level and School Administrator to his career experiences. In 1992, Criner ordained Maceo Anderson as an elder in the church. Elder Anderson resided with the Criner family in Las Vegas, Nevada for seven years, until he moved to Los Angeles, California. Criner eulogized Maceo Anderson at his "Home-going" celebration. His favorite song was "When the Saints Go Marching In." And, Anderson's all-time favorite saying was, "Watch your step, brother!" Dr. Terry Criner continues in ministry today as Bishop of Holy Tabernacle Outreach Mission, Inc.

The Four Step Brothers

Rabu, 01 November 2017