Early Wednesday, dance historians and lovers of all things hip-hop were saddened by reports that Adolfo Quinones, more commonly known as Shabba-Doo, had died.
The dancer-actor-choreographer — a founding member of The Original Lockers, whose pioneer moves as part of the street-dancing dynamos inspired a generation and fueled a culture — was 65. As of early Wednesday, no cause of death or any other information had been announced.
Just yesterday, Quinones, who was known for his acrobatic poplocking skills and roles in the 1984 films Breakin’ and sequel Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo seven months later, had posted on Instagram about falling ill. He was pictured lying in bed, but he was thrilled that his test for coronavirus had come back negative.
“Good news y’all! I’m feeling all better,” the Chicago-born and raised Quinones wrote. “I’m just a wee bit sluggish from my cold, but the good news is I’m Covid 19 negative! Woo hoo!!!”
Twitter, at 8 a.m. PST, found itself rocked by news of Quinones’ death, delivered via fellow Lockers legend and longtime Quinones pal Toni Basil.
“It is with extreme sadness The Lockers family announces the unexpected passing of our beloved Adolfo Shabba-doo Quinones,” she announced.
— Toni Basil (@Toni_Basil) December 30, 2020
“In this difficult time,” Basil concluded, “we are requesting privacy.”
Immediate responses on Twitter were full of shock and messages of mourning.
“His influence in this dance community from Breakin movies as Ozone to the underground scene, blessed so many,” opined Step By Step Dance.
“Those are such joyful films,” shared Mike McGranaghan, “and he was terrific in them.”
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After forming The Lockers with fellow dance innovators Don “Campbellock” Campbell and Basil in 1971, Quinones took his unique dance chops to the big and small screen and performance stages in the decades that followed. He led tour dancers and choreographed for artists including Luther Vandross, Madonna, Lionel Richie and Three Six Mafia.
The father of two was formerly married to Gwendolyn Powell Smith and actress Lela Rochon.
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