Frank Gatson Jr. is an American director and choreographer. He is the creative director for En Vogue, Brandy, Muni Long, Tyrese Gibson, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. He also is Kelly Rowland's and Beyoncé's main creative director and choreographer, 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]
Frank Gatson Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 4 Louisiana (born) Milwaukee, Wisconsin (origin) |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA) University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | Creative director, director, choreographer, manager |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Career | |
| Former groups | Alvin Ailey Dance, Broadway Dance Centre, Up With People Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. |
Early career
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (June 2023) |
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 master's degree in Theatre and Dance. He got his first professional break when he danced in Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" video in 1988.
In 2016, he hosted BET's Chasing Destiny alongside Kelly Rowland. The pair formed an R&B girl group called June's Diary which he now manages. Frank Gatson Jr. was the manager for Luke James and Tyrese Gibson.
Additionally, he served as choreographer for Disney's animated film Hercules, providing choreography for The Muses.
Work with En Vogue
editMusic videos
edit| 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
editMusic videos
edit| 2008 | Skin (as choreographer) | [6] |
| 2012 | Feelin' Single (as choreographer and dancer) | [7] |
Tours and live performances
edit- 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
editMusic videos
edit| 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
edit- 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
edit- True Star (2004)
- Samsung (2007)
- Armani Diamonds (2007)
- American Express (2007)
- L'Oreal (2007)
- L'Oreal (2003) (with Jennifer Lopez)
- Stella Rosa (2022) Brandy Brandy Norwood
Source:[5]
Work with Usher
editMusic videos
edit| 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ "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. 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 (June 6, 2020). "Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock breaks down in emotional video about racism". mirror. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ 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. May 18, 2015. 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. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ James, Nicole (April 27, 2011). "Beyonce Is The Hottest Aerobics Instructor EVER In 'Move Your Body' Video". MTV Networks. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (May 19, 2011). "Beyoncé 'Nailed It' in 'Girls' Video, Choreographer Says". MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
- ^ "Best Choreography (MTV VMAs)". MTV Networks. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. 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.
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External links
edit- FRANK GATSON Jr. - Bio, Chokolate
- Choreographer returns home to celebrate Jackson, North Division, Journal Sentinel, February 26, 2010 Archived March 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine