
In the early 1970s, the dancers on Don Cornelius' hit television program Soul Train were called the Soul Train Gang.But they became the Soul Train Dancers in 1975, when Cornelius and Dick Griffey co-founded SOLAR Records (later SOLAR Records), home to Lakeside, Shalamar, the Whispers and othersand decided to name an R&B vocal quintet The Soul Train Gang.Jeffrey Daniel came to fame alongside Jody Watley and Howard Hewett in soul and R&B sensation Shalamar. The trio toured for a number of. In the early 1970s, the dancers on Don Cornelius hit television program Soul Train were called the Soul Train Gang.But they became the Soul Train Dancers in 1975, when Cornelius and Dick Griffey co-founded SOLAR Records (later SOLAR Records), home to Lakeside, Shalamar, the Whispers and othersand decided to name an R&B vocal quintet The Soul Train Gang.Douglas McPherson chats to Jeffrey Daniel, who came to fame as part of R&B group Shalamar, but went on to have further success as a choreographer and stage performer…In 1999, Hewett and Daniel reformed Shalamar with Carolyn Griffey, the step-daughter of Dick Griffey who had 'created' Shalamar with Soul Train host Don Cornelius.
So when I saw Soul Train on television and saw kids my age, looking good and doing what I loved the most, which was dancing, it blew my mind. If we got in a dance competition in school, we would always win. Jody Watley and Gary.Was dancing on Soul Train your first professional job?It was one of my first appearances, although it didn’t pay, so I’m not sure if it qualifies as a job! My middle sister and myself always danced together. He also starred in rollerskating musical Starlight Express.Soul Train producer Dick Griffey had the idea of a Soul Train singing group and drafted in Jeffrey Daniel to start forming the band. Daniel went on to choreograph and appear in Jackson’s videos for Bad and Smooth Criminal. During a memorable appearance on Top Of The Pops in 1982, Daniel introduced Britain to the backslide – a dance that inspired Michael Jackson’s moonwalk.

When Jody, Howard and I stood on that stage, it was so emotional. At the end of the tour, they added Wembley Arena and it sold out. The first real sense of accomplishment was when we toured the UK. We had to go out and tour on what they called the Chitlin‘ Circuit, down South in cities I’d never heard of. I guess she had it in her all along, though.Did you expect Shalamar to be such a long-running group?When Shalamar started there was no MTV, so it wasn’t like we put out a video, were seen by the nation and, bam, we were popular. I had to teach her to sing.

Shalamar On Soul Train How To Do It
We’re really enjoying reconnecting with our audience. Her mother sang on the first album. He got in touch and wanted me to show him how to do it.How is it being back on the road with Shalamar, with Dick Griffey’s daughter Carolyn in Jody’s role?Carolyn is part of the Shalamar family.
They’re singing, they’re dancing… it’s like a celebration of the Shalamar legacy.
