This lady brought a style and class to Soul Train for over a decade. I'm so happy for this story, shining a light on some of the unheralded, pioneers of the dance/entertainment culture. Shout out to Ms Crystal McCarey, a Soul Train original!
So glad they are remembering these girls and telling their stories, without them the show wouldn't have been the same. God they were and still are gorgeous, inside and out 💘
My kids are in their thirties. The last generation to grow up watching Soul Train on Saturday morning. We ate breakfast, watched ST, then cleaned the house. I'm glad they got in on that. 😏
This must have been the ritual in almost every household back then. Once Soul Train was over it was on to dusting, scrubbing, and washing! Lol. Really miss the carefree and calm days before 2020.
Yeah i said that too! They did a lot for the show marketing wise! Tyrone Proctor interview with his old partner. Part 1 and 2 RU-vid says all what they did for Soul Train they deserved to get paid. They was on there every weekend for years!!! Then toured Soul Train Gang, appeared in magazines, articles etc..
@@MicahElohim - A lot of them were trying to make it as professional dancers or in some other form of entertainment (and some of them did make it). Still, they should've been paid at least a little. The entertainment industry is notorious for exploiting people.
@@loki2240 - It was not exploiting, it was an opportunity to be exposed. And at that time many of the Black recording artist watched the show and had their favorites. Some of the dancers went on to become professional (paid) singers dancers, actresses, and choreographers, due to the nationwide exposure paid for by Don.
These are pretty fascinating to watch. I'm just a Latino dude who maybe watched soul train every now and then when it was still on. But I do find the dancer's perspectives fascinating. Whoever started these short documentaries is brilliant.
I had the opportunity to go to Soul Train but when my parents discovered that we did not have appropriate chaperone- the deal was off. I am still crying to this day and that was about 50 years ago. What made it worst, the radio station picked another girl to go in my place and she was actually featured on TV, and she did the soul train puzzle. I am still crying!!
Saturday mornings with cartoons and Soul Train was some of the highlights of my childhood. That Soul Train line was the best damn thing on television.......that and big Don C saying "Love, Peace, and Soullllllllll"
AC, Cartoons and Soul Train were the highlights of my Childhood Years too. I wanna return backwards in a Time Machine. Towards my Childhood Years of the 1970s and my Teenager Lady Years the 1980s. I am not fond of this unkempt 21st Century. The Peace, Love & Soul is gone, along with the meaningful Music & Elegant Glamour😔😥🤦🏾♀️
@@rcardosanders2885 Everybody was more active then. Nowadays, kids sit around using technology. Back then we WERE technology. We went outside and played, ran, jumped around, and as teenagers we went dancing and rode bikes. There WAS no sitting around. You cleaned the house and went outside. Junk food was a luxury that we seldom ate so of course we stayed slender and trim and fit. Those WERE the days my friend.
@@Whipslinger1 I made the same comment on another one of the former Soul Train dancer highlight videos. We didn't sit around all day and play video games. TV was for certain times. Otherwise we were active.
@@vanessatorrado2182 the dancers know that but they still stayed because they want to and besides that they got offers and endorsement due to their exposure and they got paid ya know.
Don was always careful about the rivalries and jealousy that can erupt with having a large group of talented dancers who all wanted the spotlight. He was a very smart man.
Yes, Don had a great business mind and made smart moves but, his competitors didn't like it, like Dick Clark he wanted to take his show and control it, stole all his great ideas to make his tv dance show look better. He fought a good fight and won the battle to keep Soul Train on the air, MATTERS PEOPLE PEACE&LOVE
As a Latino kid growing up in the 70s/80s, this show informed me about funk and dance that I've always tried to incorporate into my work - yes, I too am in the business!
Entrepreneur City, Legend man himself Mr. Don Cornelius. Growing up as little girl during the 1970s. I would be so anxiously for Saturday to arrived. Because I loved watching the Soul Train Dancer's, their Glamorous Styles and seeing the Dapper Mr. Don, his huge Afro and hearing him say. And You Can Bet Your Last Money, It's All Gonna Be A Stone Gas Honey, Always In Parting, We Gonna Wished You Love, PEACE & SOUL with his raised fist✊🏾 He is truly missed😔🤦🏾♀️
@@barbiefunkyfaceb this is very true you never know what a person has encountered in this thing called life. Especially when you a Trailblazer like he was
Soul Train was a staple for me in the late 80s. Early 90s too. Now you got this TikTok stuff. This was a show right here. I miss Soul Train. Such time where things were so simple. No social media. None of that. Just pure talent all over the screen. The dancers. The musicians. All of it.
I love that all of the dancers appreciate how special Soul Train was, and how blessed they were to be a part of it...unlike today where they think they just DESERVE all the glory and accolades they can get! Much more humble back then!
Man, I swear every time I see an interview with one of the dancers, it’s like seeing an old friend. So glad to have grown up in the era I did. Great memories for sure. All of the dancers still look great by the way.
kells88, I've always said that the best two Era Decades were the 1970s when I was a little girl. And the 1980s when I was a Teenager Lady. Those two Decades were very Unique. I am also glad that I grew up in those two awesome Decades. Thank goodness for You Tube, because I could go down memory lanes of my fondest memories from the 1970s & 1980s.
I loved the generation I grew up in. After Saturday morning cartoons, there was SOUL TRAIN - watching Soul Train would set the pace of the day. Don Cornelius, and the Soul Train Dancers were iconic in Entertainment! Much love to them ALL.
I never thought she had the most rhythm.. but she definitely has the showmanship that was needed to stand out 👏🏽👏🏽 definitely remembered.. good ol days..💖
I was thinking that too. It’s kind of obvious why she was a fan favorite though but I won’t go there. She is beautiful and seems to have a great personality
I absolutely loved Crystal-she was one of my favorite dancers on Soul Train. She had this vintage classic look and I loved the way she danced. She still looks amazing.
Nice how crystal brought out the dynamics of being the only child the mentality and learned the soul train philosophy do for one ☝️ has to do for many. Great memories
Please interview Damita Jo next. She was the best female dancer ever on that show. EDIT: Guys, I am fully aware there are other videos of her on RU-vid. What I meant was I'd like to see her appear in this series "I Was a Soul Train Dancer".
Crystal was my favorite female dancer on that show hands down. Her hips were fluid and the way she interpreted the music through her body resonated with me big time. I could watch that lady dance all night i tell you. So glad she's recognized here.
I tell ya man, God really has an amazing way, of making things happen. It’s crazy how she wasn’t able to go to the audition; but she still ended up becoming a soul train dancer, by being stopped on Sunset Boulevard. That really inspired me.
One of the main guys said he got bad credit charging his outfits for the show. He wore suits and tuxedos. I guess it depends on who it was. I think it may have been easier for some of the females to get outfits made.
This black love is coming back; we are starting to love each other the way we used to - uplifting doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, scholars, and slowly (yet not quickly enough) pushing the negative stereotypes and images aside. Soul Train was family, sexy yet also family friendly. This was a great segment.
Take that complaint to BW. They and children view television at a much higher watch hours than BM. BW had the collective power to take VH-1's "Sorority Sisters" of the air after just one episode, but they helped kept shows like "Housewives of ATL" and "Basketball Wives" on the air. Tyler Perry built his motion picture and television production career off of entertaining women.....Not men.
@Sabonis 3000 - The Swirling and Divestment movement is pale in comparison to the My Submission Has To Be Bought and I Have To Compete Against Black Men Movement.
I sure hope because I see alot of comments about rather they showcased more light skinned compared to darker skinned, which isn't true because out of all the episodes, it seems to be pretty fair however if the person is your brother or sister, why does it matter how much melanin is in their skin? It was pretty even so I feel some are trying to divide and take away from being proud of a show like Soul Train that celebrates black culture. It's sad that colorism still even exists, this day and age. Any race can be whatever they want to be now and that should say it all
@Sabonis 3000 Yep, I've noticed a big push for white boys and black women. As if it's a biological and socio-economic step-up. Lots more sistas sporting straight blonde weaves and blue contact lenses. Sad aint it?!
I'm 42, and I remember watching this with my aunts, uncle , dad, mom, and cousins from 1984-1992. I remembered my mom and uncle used to tell me how they used to cut up the dancefloor at the clubs back in the 1970s to the mid 1980s. My cousins and I really liked that 1970s/1980s vibe, everybody was just having a good ol' time. I wish now in the 2020s we have a blend of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s vibe, fashion, media and asthetics , the 2020 should kinda echo the 1920s . From the ROARING 2s(1920s), to the SOARING 20s(2020s)!
Every Saturday at 12 noon I watched American Bandstand and at 1:00pm it was Soul Train. I had a smile on my face the whole time I watched this video. I grew up during the best time in American history because it was the best music ever. The 70's.
She was THE ONE! Many lovely dancers on the show, but for me she was THE ONE. I was only 2 years old when she started on the show, so I would've needed a time machine to make it happen. Just glad to see her featured here and getting her shine. For me, she was the biggest star in Hollywood!
What a tribute to the hippest show on TV even today in the stories of these dancers. Peace, Love, and soullllllllllllllll!! Thanks for Sharing Ms. Jenkins you, your mother and grandmother are awesome...👏🏼 R.I.P. Don your soul lives on.❤🌟
The stories are so fascinating and i really remember all of these different dancers faces, as a child watching TV. I loved dancing as a child and it very much is our culture and this show was so good and really there's never been anything like that since
She is so chill and cool,I love that she wanted to dance and learned moves from her mother.I would love to go out dancing again.... One day when all this is over,for now my living room.
OMG! Another one my favorite Soul Train dancers. I have to say that her story is another testament to 'what is meant for you will happen when it's time.' It's interesting how when she wanted to be there; her grandmother wouldn't let her,...but later the opportunity presented itself again, and she just so happened to be in the 'right place at the right time'. Not many people get second chances in life so this was a true blessing for her. Shout out to Chrystal McCarey. #Love #Peace and #Soul for real.
It's breath taking just to hear their stories and how they really manifested their dreams of their talents being seen on one of the greatest shows ever and how the universe really worked in their favor and made it happen for them. And in such an innocent era where they didn't have the convenience of social media.
Loved, loved Crystal, always on point💕 I had always wondered where these beautiful ladies got their gorgeous outfits. Saturdays weren't Saturdays without Soul Train and the iconic Soul Train line.
Awe the joys of watching this video. Little boys and girls loved soul train and I am so glad Don Cornelius started this for all those who loved to dance and sing. I loved Soul Train!!! What a time it was to be alive.