Barry Lather
Encyclopedia
Barry Lather is an American Choreographer, Actor and Musician.
Barry Lather grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and was raised in a dancing family of five children. His mother, Joan, was a dance instructor and father, George, had his own dancewear business. Barry moved to Los Angeles after high school and trained on scholarship at Joe Tremaine's Dance Center. In 1985 got his start in the entertainment industry dancing in the 3-D film Captain EO
(featuring Michael Jackson
and directed by Francis Ford Coppola
). Barry went on to dance in various commercials, the TV series "Fame", a TV special working with Kenny Ortega and Janet Jackson
's music videos "Nasty
" & "When I Think of You
" in 1986, both choreographed by Paula Abdul
.
Shortly after those videos, Lather was given the opportunity to choreograph for Janet Jackson on the American Music Awards and Grammy Awards in 1987. Following the success of those two performances, Barry then choreographed Janet Jackson's video The Pleasure Principle, winning an MTV Award & Billboard Music Award
for "Best Choreography" in a video. The following year, Lather won a second Billboard Award for choreography with Sting's video "We'll Be Together
". He went on to choreograph multiple commercials, TV performances and videos for Michael Jackson, Prince
, Paula Abdul
, Sting, George Michael
, Sheena Easton
, Troop, Shanice Wilson, Sheryl Crow
, Bryan Adams
, a short film for Michael Jackson, "Ghosts", in 1996, and several television shows such as The Drew Carey Show
and Nickelodeon's critically acclaimed show "Roundhouse". He has received two American Choreography Awards
, "Bob Fosse
" Awards for his choreographic work.
Lather choreographed the Super Bowl
Halftime Special in 1998 featuring Motown artists Boyz II Men, Queen Latifah, Smokey Robinson and The Temptations, the prestigious Academy Awards
in 1996, Grammy Awards, MTV Awards, Billboard Awards, BET Awards
and American Music Awards
. His choreographic film credits include: Robin Williams
and Edward Norton
in Death to Smoochy
, directed by Danny DeVito
; and spectacular production numbers in Blues Brothers 2000
, directed by John Landis
, and the films "Vegas Vacation", "Super Mario Bros" & "Unconditional Love". Lather received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Choreography for the Miss America Pageant in 2000, featuring Donny Osmond
.
While choreographing, Lather also recorded an album as a solo artist with the label Atlantic Records
/WEA
in 1990, titled Turn Me Loose. Releasing the single and music video, "Love in the Third Degree" directed by Peter Kagen.
For the past 15 years, Lather has directed many large productions adding another stage to his director/choreographer career, directing world tours & live television performances for Usher
, P.Diddy, Mariah Carey
, Rihanna, Ciara
, Pussycat Dolls
, Sean Kingston
, Ashlee Simpson
, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani
, and Seal
. He also was creative consultant on Britney Spears
' "Dream within a Dream" world tour, working along with director Wade Robson
. Lather was creative director for Usher's Showtime special One Night, One Star, broadcast live from Puerto Rico
; Usher's "The Truth Tour" in 2005, and Usher & James Brown
's show stopping performance on the 2005 Grammy Awards.
In 2006, Lather directed Mariah Carey's tour The Adventures of Mimi, a major contribution to her successful comeback. Lather co-directed pop superstar Rihanna's European Tour (which opened in Paris in November 2007) and two Dancing with the Stars live arena tour productions.
In the summer of 2008, Lather was creative director for Usher's opening performance on the BET Awards, as well as Rihanna's performance of "Take a Bow".
Lather has also choreographed several ice show productions that have toured the globe, working with Olympic
gold medalists Kristi Yamaguchi
, Brian Boitano
, Katarina Witt
, & Scott Hamilton
. He has directed & choreographed theme park shows for Paramount Parks, Disney, EuroDisney in Paris and large productions for cruise ships as well.
In the fall of 2008, Lather directed and choreographed Donny and Marie Osmond
's hit Las Vegas Show at the Flamingo Hotel, and directed Rihanna's opening performance of "Vogue" on the "Fashion Rocks" TV special, Rihanna's rock-inspired American Music Awards Performance in Los Angeles and the Royal Variety TV special in London.
In the past 2 years, Barry directed Usher's performance on the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance", Britain's Got Talent, X Factor, 2010 BET Award performance, 2010 American Music Awards and the dynamic MTV Video Music Awards performance in Los Angeles. Barry worked with R & B singer Keri Hilson, Sean Kingston, Estelle, The Dream, Jason DeRulo, and directed & choreographed the innovative Freestyle Motocross theatrical show "Nuclear Cowboyz" that toured the States in the winter/spring of 2011 in its second season. Barry directed Usher's epic "OMG" World Tour in 2010-2011, Usher's dynamic Grammy Award performance joined with Justin Bieber in Los Angeles Feb. 13th, artist Miguel on the BET Awards and his new tour, Nicole Scherzinger's T.V. performances on American Idol, Ellen & So You Think You Can Dance. Recently, Barry directed and choreographed production performances on the Country Music Awards & a CMA Christmas TV Special.....and directed Usher and Romeo Santos performance on the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas. Also on the 2011 American Music Awards, Barry directed and choreographed Justin Bieber's performance for his Christmas song "Mistletoe".
RELATED LINKS of Barry's work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr2heIrMpUg - Director Reel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDHZa8NjcIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGjSkFOgfvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gu1KETjVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgq3UaATX_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96vGMbmT8Vc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCovbctZ4w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5H8q0XJOt0
Biography
Director, Choreographer, Dancer, SingerBarry Lather grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and was raised in a dancing family of five children. His mother, Joan, was a dance instructor and father, George, had his own dancewear business. Barry moved to Los Angeles after high school and trained on scholarship at Joe Tremaine's Dance Center. In 1985 got his start in the entertainment industry dancing in the 3-D film Captain EO
Captain EO
Captain EO is a 3-D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through the 1990s...
(featuring Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
). Barry went on to dance in various commercials, the TV series "Fame", a TV special working with Kenny Ortega and Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's music videos "Nasty
Nasty (song)
"Nasty" is the second single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control . Released in 1986, the single peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and remains one of Jackson's signature songs. Paula Abdul choreographed the music video and appeared...
" & "When I Think of You
When I Think of You
"When I Think of You" is the third single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control . Written by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and produced by Jam and Lewis, the song is about a person who finds relief and fun in a lover...
" in 1986, both choreographed by Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
.
Shortly after those videos, Lather was given the opportunity to choreograph for Janet Jackson on the American Music Awards and Grammy Awards in 1987. Following the success of those two performances, Barry then choreographed Janet Jackson's video The Pleasure Principle, winning an MTV Award & Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
for "Best Choreography" in a video. The following year, Lather won a second Billboard Award for choreography with Sting's video "We'll Be Together
We'll Be Together (Sting song)
"We'll Be Together" is a song performed by Sting on his 1987 album Nothing Like the Sun. The song was also released as a single, and reached #7 and #41 on the U.S. and UK singles charts, respectively...
". He went on to choreograph multiple commercials, TV performances and videos for Michael Jackson, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
, Sting, George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
, Troop, Shanice Wilson, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, a short film for Michael Jackson, "Ghosts", in 1996, and several television shows such as The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
and Nickelodeon's critically acclaimed show "Roundhouse". He has received two American Choreography Awards
American Choreography Awards
The American Choreography Awards was a ceremony and show that honored outstanding choreographers in the fields of feature film, television, music videos, and commercials. They were first known as the L.A. Dance Awards , then as Bob Fosse Awards, and a.k.a. Fosse’s , and eventually the American...
, "Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse
Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse was an American actor, dancer, musical theater choreographer, director, screenwriter, film editor and film director. He won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction...
" Awards for his choreographic work.
Lather choreographed the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Halftime Special in 1998 featuring Motown artists Boyz II Men, Queen Latifah, Smokey Robinson and The Temptations, the prestigious Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in 1996, Grammy Awards, MTV Awards, Billboard Awards, BET Awards
BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
and American Music Awards
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
. His choreographic film credits include: Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
and Edward Norton
Edward Norton
Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...
in Death to Smoochy
Death to Smoochy
Death to Smoochy is a 2002 American dark comedy film directed by and starring Danny DeVito and starring Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, and Jon Stewart.-Plot:...
, directed by Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
; and spectacular production numbers in Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Directed by John Landis, the film featured Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by many musicians.-Plot:...
, directed by John Landis
John Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
, and the films "Vegas Vacation", "Super Mario Bros" & "Unconditional Love". Lather received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Choreography for the Miss America Pageant in 2000, featuring Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
.
While choreographing, Lather also recorded an album as a solo artist with the label Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
/WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
in 1990, titled Turn Me Loose. Releasing the single and music video, "Love in the Third Degree" directed by Peter Kagen.
For the past 15 years, Lather has directed many large productions adding another stage to his director/choreographer career, directing world tours & live television performances for Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
, P.Diddy, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Rihanna, Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...
, Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.-Early life:...
, Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Nicole Simpson is an American singer and actress. In 2004, she rose to prominence with the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. In October 2005, following a North American concert tour and a film appearance, Simpson released...
, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
, and Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
. He also was creative consultant on Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
' "Dream within a Dream" world tour, working along with director Wade Robson
Wade Robson
Wade Jeremy William Robson is an Australian dance prodigy, director, producer, songwriter, and award-winning choreographer. He began performing as a dancer at the age of five. He has directed music videos and world tours for numerous music artists such as 'N Sync and Britney Spears...
. Lather was creative director for Usher's Showtime special One Night, One Star, broadcast live from Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
; Usher's "The Truth Tour" in 2005, and Usher & James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's show stopping performance on the 2005 Grammy Awards.
In 2006, Lather directed Mariah Carey's tour The Adventures of Mimi, a major contribution to her successful comeback. Lather co-directed pop superstar Rihanna's European Tour (which opened in Paris in November 2007) and two Dancing with the Stars live arena tour productions.
In the summer of 2008, Lather was creative director for Usher's opening performance on the BET Awards, as well as Rihanna's performance of "Take a Bow".
Lather has also choreographed several ice show productions that have toured the globe, working with Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalists Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two...
, Brian Boitano
Brian Boitano
Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season...
, Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt is a German figure skater and model. In Germany she was commonly called "Kati" in the past, but today her full name is used more often....
, & Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton (figure skater)
Scott Scovell Hamilton is an American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist. He won four consecutive U.S. championships , four consecutive World Championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics....
. He has directed & choreographed theme park shows for Paramount Parks, Disney, EuroDisney in Paris and large productions for cruise ships as well.
In the fall of 2008, Lather directed and choreographed Donny and Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
's hit Las Vegas Show at the Flamingo Hotel, and directed Rihanna's opening performance of "Vogue" on the "Fashion Rocks" TV special, Rihanna's rock-inspired American Music Awards Performance in Los Angeles and the Royal Variety TV special in London.
In the past 2 years, Barry directed Usher's performance on the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance", Britain's Got Talent, X Factor, 2010 BET Award performance, 2010 American Music Awards and the dynamic MTV Video Music Awards performance in Los Angeles. Barry worked with R & B singer Keri Hilson, Sean Kingston, Estelle, The Dream, Jason DeRulo, and directed & choreographed the innovative Freestyle Motocross theatrical show "Nuclear Cowboyz" that toured the States in the winter/spring of 2011 in its second season. Barry directed Usher's epic "OMG" World Tour in 2010-2011, Usher's dynamic Grammy Award performance joined with Justin Bieber in Los Angeles Feb. 13th, artist Miguel on the BET Awards and his new tour, Nicole Scherzinger's T.V. performances on American Idol, Ellen & So You Think You Can Dance. Recently, Barry directed and choreographed production performances on the Country Music Awards & a CMA Christmas TV Special.....and directed Usher and Romeo Santos performance on the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas. Also on the 2011 American Music Awards, Barry directed and choreographed Justin Bieber's performance for his Christmas song "Mistletoe".
RELATED LINKS of Barry's work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr2heIrMpUg - Director Reel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDHZa8NjcIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGjSkFOgfvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gu1KETjVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgq3UaATX_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96vGMbmT8Vc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCovbctZ4w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5H8q0XJOt0