The Berry Brothers: Art and Soul

Music fans, what comes to mind when you think of the funk or R & B classics of yesteryear? The bass guitar driven and electronic synth of the ‘80s, the Motown or Stax/Volt sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s? Some may recall an even earlier era of the sweet melodies and harmonies of do-wop and barbershop quartets.

As with most forms of popular music, performance and showmanship are integral components of any successful act -- the attire, the presence and most certainly, the choreography.

Twenty-five years before the world witnessed the agility and energy of James Brown, 60 years before we'd see the superhuman stunts of the Breakdancers or Prince leap off a grand piano and land in a "split", we had The Berry Brothers.

Nyas, James and Warren Berry were an African-American trio of acrobatic, soft shoe dancers, who incorporated elements of comedy, tap dance and Vaudevillian artistry in their act, beginning in the early 1920s. 

In their early years, they modeled themselves after the highly popular minstrel duo of George Walker & Bert Williams, subsequently billing themselves as "The Miniature Williams and Walker". 

As their popularity grew, so did their demand within the entertainment industry. By the mid 20s, the brothers found themselves landing gigs in celebrity social functions and well renown hotspots like Harlem's Cotton Club with Duke 

Ellington, the Copacabana and even appeared in a few Our Gang episodes.

The hallmark of their act was their fancy cane twirling and a style of dance which was coined the "flash" or "freeze and melt", where the brothers would spontaneously burst into a frenzy of flips, splits and leaps within a second of a stationary pose or slow strut.

One of their most memorable performances would be at the Cotton Club in 1938, in a competition against dance rivals "The Nicholas Brothers":

As Warren held the audience’s attention at center stage with a few seconds of solo work, James and Nyas ran up the steps to a balcony directly behind him, well over 12 feet high. The two brothers then leaped over the Cab Calloway orchestra playing directly below, landing in the splits on either side of Warren, in perfect rhythm to the music. The audience went wild, and the Berry's took the victory.

This performance would be re-enacted many times throughout their career, and most notably in the 1942 movie Panama Hattie.

From start to finish, the Berry's would enjoy a run in the entertainment business for over 30 years, landing a handful of movie cameos and paving the way for future popular African American based dance movements.

The Berry Brothers were masters of precision, the epitome of "cool", and among the most dynamic and influential acts within their craft.

Enjoy.