Frankie Manning was a famous American dancer, instructor, choreographer, and one of the founders of the Lindy Hop. He was also known as 'Musclehead' while he was active in dancing. He died in April 2009, at an age of 94 in Manhattan, New York.
The Jacksonville born dancer lived his life quite happily and he got everything that he wanted from his life. He was married to his wife Gloria Holloway with whom he divorced in 1989 while he had three children.
Know More about Frankie Manning
Frankie Manning grew up with his mother after the separation of his parents at age 3. His mother was also a dancer with whom he moved to Harlem and soon after he started dancing.
Late American dancer and choreographer Frankie Manning
Source: Wikipedia
Manning associated with the Herbert White organized top Savoy Ballroom lindy hop dancers Whitey's Lindy Lindy Hoppers. Manning created the troupe's first ensemble Lindy Hop routines and functioned as the group's de facto choreographer, although without that title.
After the war, in 1947, Manning formed a small performance group called the Congaroos, while the group was disbanded in 1955. After the group was disbanded, Manning settled into a career with the US Postal service. He served for the US postal service for around 30 years.
After serving for the Postal service for about 30-long years, he started his second career in dancing: traveling the world as a renowned instructor and inspirator.
In 1986, dancers Erin Stevens and Steven Mitchell asked Manning to teach them Lindy Hop but at first, he declined their proposal. Later he met them and agreed to become a tutor.
Later, Manning's annual birthday celebrations attracted dancers and instructors from all over the world. In 1994, his 80th birthday was commemorated by a weekend-long celebration in New York City. Mostly for his birthday dances, he followed his custom dancing with one woman for every year of his life.
Frankie Manning
Source: missedinhistory
Mr. Manning had also worked in the movies which also established himself as an actor. Some of his films are Radio City Revels (1938), Hellzapoppin' (1941), Hot Chocolate (1941), Killer Diller (1948) and so on.
Frankie Manning's Married Life and Children
The famous American dancer and choreographer Frankie married Gloria Holloway. It is not well known that when he married to her, however, he was not in the married relation with his wife till his death as he divorced her in 1989.
Frank had three children; Chazz Young, Marion Manning, and Frankie Manning Jr., however, it is not known whom he gave birth to his children with. His eldest son Chazz Young is also an American choreographer, dancer, and actor.
Chazz Young
Source: got2kindly
After living a reputed life as a dancer, choreographer and dance tutor, Manning left the world on April 27, 2009, at an age 94 in his own resident of Corona, Queens in Manhattan. He is interred in the Hillcrest Plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York