Hold still for a moment, Julius ""Flash Ford''Reliford. Your former students, fans, friends, family and co-workers want to say thanks.

        A benefit will be given for Mr. Reliford, 82, starting 5 p.m. Sunday at Sonny's All Blues Cafe and Lounge, 4040 Reading Road, North Avondale.

        The ailing bongo, drums and dance instructor was in the respiratory care unit at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Avondale when I visited him twice this week.

        He acknowledged my presence on the first visit and then fell asleep. On the second visit, he smiled, complained about an IV tube in his arm and responded to one question.

        “I can still play the drums a little bit.”

        Mr. Reliford became a legend in Cincinnati by teaching people how to dance and play drums for more than 50 years.

        “I was in one of his dance groups,” said Debra Reliford, a grand-niece from Lockland. “He taught us how to do African dances and tap dances.”

        Mr. Reliford was tagged with the moniker “Flash” when he toured the country in a dance duet with Jack Hill, known as “Dash.” They had a tap dancing routine, Flash and Dash.

        During World War II, Mr. Reliford went around the world, performing with such big bands as Dizzy Gillespie, Stant Kenton, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

        As recently as three months ago, he sat in with Uncle Russell and the Kinfolks Band at Sonny's Lounge.

        “He is strictly top shelf,” said band leader Russell Givens. “He is a great performer and a great teacher.”

        In the early 1980s, Mr. Reliford could be heard barking out dance routines in senior centers in Cincinnati. He taught dance exercise at eight senior centers.

        He said then that many of his students complained of arthritis. “But I ran old "Arthur' away,” he said.

        His sister, Emma L. Glanton of Evanston, said her brother believed he could teach anybody to dance.

        “It is rumored that he taught Doris Day how to tap dance,” Mrs. Glanton said.

        Applause Magazine is accepting nominations for the 11th Annual Imagemaker Awards, to be presented at an awards ceremony at the Aronoff Center on Feb. 17.

        The awards salute and celebrate achievements of African-Americans in Greater Cincinnati.

        Deadline for nominations is Nov. 27. Nomination forms are available at the Applause office, 7710 Reading Road, Suite 108, Cincinnati 45237 or at its Web site at home.fuse.net/applause or e-mail at Applausemagazine@fuse.net. For information, call Rose Robinson at 761-6900.

        Historic renovation plans in Over-the-Rhine will be the topic of a luncheon 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday at Emanuel Community Center, 1308 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. For information, call 241-2690.

        MONTGOMERY — A parenting series will be offered 7 p.m. Tuesday by Beech Acres and Church of the Savior United Methodist at the church, 8005 Pfeiffer Road, Montgomery.

        Carolyn Whitehead, manager of group services at Beech Acres, will present 10 steps to practical parenting, a guide to help parents raise their kids and keep their sanity.

       Allen Howard's column runs on Saturdays. Call: 768-8362. Mail: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

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