The club’s original twenty-one members included Cholly Atkins (The Rhythm Pals, Coles and Atkins, Motown Chreographer), Peg Leg Bates (Blackbirds of 1928, Ed Sullivan Show, owner of the Peg Leg Bates Country Club in the Catskills of New York), Paul Black (The Three Chocolateers), Roy Branker (pianist with The Three Peppers), Ernest “Brownie” Brown (Cook and Brown), Charles “Honi” Coles (The Miller Brothers, Coles and Atkins), Chink Collins (TOBA circuit, Joyce Beasley, the Dolly Sisters, The Cotton Club Boys), Charles “Cookie” Cook (Cook and Brown), Emory Evans (Gary and Evans), Francis Goldberg, Frank Goldberg, Milton Larkin (trumpeter and band leader), Pete Nugent (Pete, Peaches and Duke), Lutherr Preston (Slim and Sweets), Billy Strayhorn (composer & arranger, writing partner of Duke Ellington), John E. Thomas (The Three Rockets), James Walker (Chuck and Chuckles, Myers and Walker, The Three Chocolateers), Elmer Waters, and Eddie West (The Three Chocolateers). With the founding officers LeRoy Myers, (Pops and LeRoy, Sinclair and LeRoy, Myers and Walker) as President and Henry “Phace” Roberts (The Five Blazers and The Three Rockets) as Vice President.
Billy Strayhorn served as the president of the club from the early 1950’s until his death in 1967, at which time the club abolished the position of president in his honor.
Subsequent membership included: Billy Eckstine (vocalist, trumpeter, valve trombonist, and band leader), Lewis Brown (The Cotton Club Boys), Curley Hamner (Red and Curley), Timmie Rogers (comedian, song writer, If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes…), Charlie Shavers (trumpeter, Undecided), Bubba Gaines (The Three Dukes), Dizzy Gillespie (trumpeter and composer, Groovin’ High, A Night in Tunisia, Manteca), Buster Brown (The Three Speed Kings), Louie Simms Carpenter (The Four Flash Devils and Simms and Booie), Albert Gibson (The Three Chocolateers), James Cross (Stump and Stumpy), and Jimmy Wright (Broadway performer).
The club also allow for a number of honorary members including the likes of Willie Bryant (honorary mayor of Harlem following Bill “Bojangles” Robinson), Lionel Hampton (vibraphonist and band leader, Flying Home, Midnight Sun), Sammy Davis, Jr., The Nicholas Brothers, Chuck Green, Joe Williams, and Dick Gregory.
The club produced annual events including the Copasetics Dance and Copasetics Boat Ride which were two of the most popular tickets New York City.
The COPASETICS is a social friendly benevolent club.
Its members pledge themselves to do all in their power to promote
fellowship and to strengthen the character within their ranks.
With these thoughts ever foremost in our minds, it should be our every desire to create only
impressions that will establish us in all walks of life as a group of decent, respectable men.
Bearing in mind that these achievements can only become a reality by first seeking the aid of God.
— written by LeRoy Myers and Luther Preston —
The Copasetics was formed in 1949 by twenty-one men in and around show business in memory of one of the greatest black entertainment icons, Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson. The Copasetics was a vital force in Harlem since its inception and contributed to many charitable and community activities. The Copasetics was a major force in the revival of tap dancing in the late 1970’s and 80’s.
The club’s original twenty-one members were:
- Charles “Cholly” Atkins (“The Rhythm Pals”, Dorothy Saulters, “Coles and Atkins”, Motown Choreographer)
- Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates (Blackbirds of 1928, Ed Sullivan Show, country club in Upstate NY)
- Paul Black (“The Three Chocolateers”)
- Roy Branker (pianist with “The Three Peppers”)
- Ernest “Brownie” Brown (“Cook and Brown”)
- Charles “Honi” Coles (“The Miller Brothers”, “Coles and Atkins”)
- Chink Collins (TOBA circuit, Joyce Beasley, the Dolly Sisters, “The Cotton Club Boys”)
- Cookie Cook (“Cook and Brown”)
- Emory Evans (“Gary and Evans”)
- Francis Goldberg
- Frank Goldberg
- Milton Larkin (trumpeter, band leader)
- LeRoy Myers, President (“Pops and LeRoy”, “Sinclair and LeRoy”, “Myers and Walker”)
- Pete Nugent (“Pete, Peaches and Duke”)
- Luther Preston (“Slim and Sweets”)
- Phace Roberts, Vice President (“The Five Blazers”, “The Three Rockets”)
- Billy Strayhorn (composer & arranger, Duke Ellington, Take the A Train, Lush Life, Lotus Flowers, Chelsea Bridge)
- John E. Thomas (“The Three Rockets”)
- James Walker (“Chuck and Chuckles”, “Myers and Walker”, “The Three Chocolateers”)
- Elmer Waters
- Eddie West (“The Three Chocolateers”)
Subsequent membership included:
- Billy Eckstine (vocalist, trumpeter, valve trombonist, band leader)
- Lewis Brown (“The Cotton Club Boys”)
- Curley Hamner (“Red and Curley”)
- Timmie Rogers (comedian, song writer, If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes…)
- Charlie Shavers (trumpeter, Undecided)
- Leslie “Bubba” Gaines (“The Three Dukes”)
- Dizzy Gillespie (trumpeter, Groovin’ High, A Night in Tunisia, Manteca)
- James “Buster” Brown (“The Three Speed Kings”)
- Louie Simms Carpenter (“The Four Flash Devils”, “Simms and Booie”)
- Albert Gibson (“The Three Chocolateers”)
- James Cross (“Stump and Stumpy”)
- Jimmy Wright (Broadway performer)
Billy Strayhorn served as the president of the club from the early 1950’s until his death in 1967, at which time the club abolished the presidency in his honor.
Besides the regular membership, there were honorary members such as:
- Willie Bryant (honorary mayor of Harlem after Bill Robinson)
- Lionel Hampton (vibraphonist, band leader, Flying Home, Midnight Sun)
- Sammy Davis, Jr.
- The Nicholas Brothers
- Chuck Green
- Joe Williams
- Dick Gregory
The club’s annual Copasetics Dance and Copasetics Boat Ride were two of the most popular events in town.
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