Cholly Atkins's career has spanned an eventful era of American dance. He began performing during Prohibition and continued his apprenticeship in vaudeville, in nightclubs, and in the army during World War II. With his partner, Honi Coles, Cholly toured the country, performing with such jazz masters as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and Count Basie. As tap reached a nadir in the 50s, Cholly created the new specialization of vocal choreography, teaching rhythm-and-blues singers how to perform their music by adding rhythmical dance steps drawn from 20th-century American dance, from the Charleston to rhythm tap. For the burgeoning Motown record label, Cholly taught such artists as the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Marvin Gaye to command the stage in ways that would enhance their performances and sell their songs.