The Four Step Brothers facts for kids

The Four Step Brothers were an amazing American dance group. They started as a trio in 1925. The first members were Maceo Anderson, Al Williams, and Red Walker.

At first, they were just called the Step Brothers. But another famous tap dancing group had the same name. So, they changed their name to "The Three Step Brothers." In 1927, a new dancer named Sherman Robinson joined them. That's when they became "The Four Step Brothers." People called them "The Eight Feet of Rhythm" because they were so good! They even toured with the famous musician Duke Ellington. While dancing with the group, Maceo Anderson also performed at the Hoofers Club and worked as a newsboy.

This group made history in many ways. They were the first Black performers to dance at Radio City Music Hall. They were also the first to appear at the Chez Paree Club in Chicago. And they were the first to help break the color bar on television. This meant they helped open doors for other Black performers.

Their Cool Dance Style

The Four Step Brothers were famous for their super tricky dance routines. They used many different moves. These included snake hips, five-tap wings, slides, and rhythm (jazz) tap. They also did the camel walk, the strut, and even acrobatics.

They usually kept their dance steps the same. They only changed them to make them better or when new dancers joined. They were well-known for their "challenge dances." In these dances, they would try to outdo each other without any music! Each dancer would take a turn dancing alone. The others would stand back, clapping their hands and stomping their feet.

Their Amazing Career

The Four Step Brothers performed at the famous Cotton Club for four years. They traveled all over the country on the Keith-Orpheum circuit and the "Chitlin' Circuit." They danced every year at Radio City Music Hall for ten years! They also toured the world four times. They visited twelve countries in Europe and received standing ovations from kings and queens. In the U.S., they even danced for presidents Truman and Eisenhower.

They appeared in many movies, too! Some of their films include Check and Double Check (1930), Barbershop Blues (1933), It Ain't Hay (1943), Rhythm of the Islands (1943), and Greenwich Village (1944). They also appeared in That's My Gal (1947), Here Come the Girls (1953), and The Patsy (1964).

In 1950, they were on Milton Berle's Texaco Theater TV show. The show's sponsor didn't want them to appear. Milton Berle later wrote about this in his book. He said he thought the objection was because they were Black performers. Berle insisted, "If they don't go on, I don't go on." Just ten minutes before the show, he got permission for them to perform. After this, he had no trouble booking other Black artists like Bill Robinson or Lena Horne.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the "Brothers" were on many popular TV shows. They appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Guy Mitchell Show. They also performed on Bob Hope specials and telecasts with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Perry Como, and Steve Allen.

The Four Step Brothers were one of the longest-lasting dance groups ever. They performed for more than forty years, into the 1960s!

They received a lifetime achievement award from the Dance Masters of America in 1960. They got another award in 1985 for helping to break the color barrier. In 1988, they received their own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Group Members Over Time

Many talented dancers were part of The Four Step Brothers over the years. These included Sylvester "Happy" Johnson and Prince Spencer, who joined in 1941. Freddie James danced with the group from 1939 to 1943. Rufus "Flash" McDonald joined in 1943 when James left. Other members were Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison and Norman Rowe.

When Prince Spencer left, Edward Bozeman took his place. Bozeman was also a professional dancer and even used the name "Prince" before joining. Like Spencer, Bozeman did the acrobatic moves and flips. He always danced last, just like Spencer. Flash McDonald, another Step Brother, said, "Let him be himself, instead of doing Prince's routines." Everyone agreed. Bozeman recalled, "They thought I was a kid, but I was 35." Edward Bozeman performed with the group from 1964 until they stopped performing around 1989-1990.

In 1968, a ten-year-old acrobatic dancer named Terry Criner joined the group. He would come out at the end of their show. The four main dancers would point to the stage, and Little Terry would dash out. He did amazing acrobatic moves like head spins and somersaults, all very fast. Newspapers said he was like a blur! The original members thought Criner was a "great addition."

Terry Criner was only in fourth grade when he started dancing with these legends. Even though he was new to tap dancing, his amazing acrobatic skills made him special. Maceo E. Anderson, one of the original members, was his mentor. Terry Criner toured with the Step Brothers. He also performed as a solo act, opening for Donald O'Connor for almost three years.

The Next Generation of Steps

Terry Criner eventually agreed with Maceo Anderson's idea to start a new group. At first, they called it Four Steps and a Miss. Later, the group became known as the Third Generation Steps. This new group also became very successful. In 1979, after eleven years of performing, 21-year-old Criner decided to retire. This surprised Maceo Anderson and the other group members, Cindy Notz and Ivery Wheeler, as the group was at its peak.

During his performing years, Terry Criner achieved a lot. He became the Nevada State Diving Champion. He also won the Clark County Theater Arts Ensemble Acting Co-Champion award. He received the DeVos Scholarship in Theater Arts to UNLV. In 1980, he began working in gospel ministry. He also became a United States Marine. Later, he was named Clark County School District New Teacher of the Year at the Intermediate Level. He also worked as a Middle and High School Administrator. In 1992, Criner ordained Maceo Anderson as an elder in the church. Elder Anderson lived with the Criner family for seven years in Las Vegas, Nevada. Then he moved to Los Angeles, California. Criner gave the eulogy at Maceo Anderson's funeral. Anderson's favorite song was "When the Saints Go Marching In." And his favorite saying was, "Watch your step, brother!" Today, Dr. Terry Criner continues his ministry as Bishop of Holy Tabernacle Outreach Mission, Inc.