OFF THE TRACKS

By Myron Montgomery and Janis Dasilva

An electrifying book about Myron Montgomery. He is the creator of the world renowned ‘Harlem Shake.’ Endearing secrets he learned from his mom he calls "Barbara Jean’s Pearls of Wisdom." Marvelous stories of his exciting optimistic journey will entertain everyone. How he landed a famous spot center stage on the iconic Soul Train TV series at 15 years old, enjoy his 18 fascinating years (seasons). His captivating adventures in high-end Real estate leasing, working for the rich & famous, powerful, and royalty. Working, producing, and recording in exotic countries. Cover acts success, shopping sprees fit for a king. Magical stories in every chapter will leave you gasping for more as you embark on this great dancer’s enchanting life. In addition he captures some behind-the-scenes dirt that is also hilarious on and off the tracks of the hippest trip in America, Soul Train. A special adorable look at the shows iconic creator Don Cornelius who was like an uncle to Myron. Myron was always invited to Don’s exclusive star studded elegant celebrations. Enjoy his celebrity close friendships, and beach front exquisite adventures. Don’t miss this must read!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9781665756198

Myron Montgomery

Myron Montgomery from L.A. California. At age 15 landed in the spotlight 18 years, dancing on Soul Train the iconic TV Series. Invented world renowned Harlem Shake. Successes: Episodic TV shows like Young and the Restless, Producer, Songwriter, Real estate guru for Rich & Powerful. Co-author Janis Dasilva Biographer to the Rich & Famous.

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Copyright © 2024 Myron Montgomery & Janis Dasilva.

copyright number of © TXu 2-347-490 11/22/2022 Myron Montgomery and Janis Dasilva

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Myron Montgomery and Janis Dasilva

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5618-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5620-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5619-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024902350

Archway Publishing rev. date: 02/13/2024

Thank You

I would love to 1st give a special thanks to my Parents, Grandparents, and Loved ones for their love and guidance. Thank you to each member of my family, friends, Manager, Publisher, Producers, Directors, BET, Don Cornelius, The Whole Soul Train Crew and my Co-writer for all the laughs, love, support, honesty, and encouragement they continue to share over the years.

I was so happy to dance on Soul Train for so many wonderful years. I still feel the excitement of that very first day I walked onto the TV station dance floor, and the cameras started rolling. It was like magic; I could perfect my dance skills and then share them with 1000’s of viewers. I love dancing, and this is dedicated to all dancers. I love you and I hope this book will help you to gain greater success and happiness doing what God blessed us to do, dance and love it because dancing is a celebration from the heart to all kinds of music. I also Thank God for this wonderful adventure. Also, a big Thank you, to all my readers, for allowing me to tell my story in my own voice, in my own words, as Soulful as they are. Now let’s dance, and light up the dance floor with our magic!

Preface

This is my journey… Come with me for a glamorous ride through the Hollywood hills, and then back down Sunset for a nightcap with royalty and all the glitz and glitter along the way, through these pages of my life as a Soul Train Dancer.

Dancing on Soul Train until I was in my 30’s was an experience I will never forget. I read somewhere that the 30’s are the greatest years of your life, and 35 is sometimes considered the best age, and happiness is usually reached at 35, but I do not quite agree 100% with that theory, because I have enjoyed making my life the best every year I could!

Place Of Pleasure: The enchantment that was felt on the set every time a celebrity hit the stage, or a sexy starlet was interviewed. The artistry of the Soul Train line, the mystery of the Scrabble board, the royalty of the Center riser, the wonderment of the Winterland Christmas Galas, my magical beachfront adventures, my Exquisite Princess & Royalty encounters, Velvet Rope & All Access passes, Vacationing via private jets decorated castles in the air, fabulous Yacht parties, My Dream come true birthday gifts, close celebrity friendships, celebrity dance teachers, the Kentucky Derby. My Over-the-top Spa treatments, trips overseas, trips through the States, high-end shopping sprees, glamorous restaurants, Brunches by the pool, my amazing Cover Acts on the high seas on board the luxurious Princess Cruise & in Las Vegas, and the World class dog competitions, all those and much more, brought their own special type of pleasure, excitement, and magic into my life.

Never a dull moment you might think. Maybe, but any dull moments were quickly followed by something exciting, magical and over-the-moon. I enjoyed strutting my routines distinctively on every show like a celebration, specifically just to share the joy of dancing on Soul Train.

The endless magic of Soul Train was in the music, the dancing, the gorgeous African American art design of every stage set. Even the funky little cartoon train that made its way on the track through the high-rise buildings of the Windy city in the intro of most shows.

We really taught America how to get their groove on and it was such a spiritual experience for me to be a part of all that, and for me to have created the Harlem Shake, and other dances that are still loved and received worldwide!

I dressed to impress, and I danced my best for the show along with the other Soul Train dancers, and Don as the Soul Train’s conductor all together; we cleverly camouflaged the actuality of teaching our community some real pride in being African Americans by the way we carried ourselves on camera every weekend.

I am so glad my parents raised me to always carry myself with dignity. No matter how I was feeling, when I stepped onto that stage, I showed respect for myself and for all the people who were watching. I am so glad I was able to do that, and I appreciate my lovely gracious fans for standing by me, and dancing with me, from home or wherever you were watching.

Soul Train displays the true art of our culture and fun we were really having with one another on the set, regardless of what was being showcased about us negatively in the news every night. We were still having good positive fun, successfully dressed, while being upstanding and polite citizens who used dance as an art form of expression as we got our groove on.

Soul Train had so many wonderful musical highlights, because it showcased so many A-list performers every week. For example, in 1975 Barry White performed on Soul Train with a 40-piece band! It was such a spectacular show and got a lot of attention. It was a concert right in your living room as they performed 3 songs, in a stage setting just like his concerts. I remember all the dancers got together to create a special dance routine for that show, it was such a historical day.

Another time ‘3 Greats,’ took the Soul Train stage by storm Bobby Bland, James Brown, and B.B. King altogether on the same stage singing live was monumental for a 60-minute TV show to broadcast, and that show along with others I danced on, are still historically loved televised events.

Some of the performers that only performed live on Soul Train, also dictated their own stage design specification requirements. Some high-end celebs brought their own glamorous stage and set designs, which sometimes completely changed the entire look of Soul Train, and is another factor besides the wonderful dancing we did, all this combined made each and every show super exciting to say the least.

You never really knew what the set or stage was going to be transformed into, at any given time, for any given guest performer.

These specific designs had to be created by Don and his set crew a lot of the time, for certain performers to present their signature performances. Soul Train was made even more wonderful and unique because it did whatever extra step the show needed to do, to accommodate the artist’s design request in addition to allowing them to perform live. If other shows did not give these artists what they wanted and needed to perform to their perfection, they knew Don would.

California Gold Rush for Black Youth to Soul Train…

In 1848 the California Gold rush drew people from all over the country to California, and in the 1970’s Soul Train drew a lot of African American teenagers to start raising money around the country to make their way to California in hopes of landing a golden spot-on Soul Train. I can honestly say, they were headed on the right track, many teens from the Midwest moved here and landed a spot on the train. I was fortunate to be born here and that put me on the fast track to the audition, giving me some golden personal and historic memories, after winning a spot aboard the hippest trip in America, and you can bet your bottom dollar it was a stone gas honey. Enjoy this ride with me as we not only look at all the fun I had, but also get some insight and inspiration for success in your life if you need it, throughout this historic and sometimes hilarious ride on the tracks of events and information I have compiled here for your enjoyment and enlightenment. This is my chance to say sincerely thank you for watching from the deepest parts of my heart, please know that you are always loved and, in my heart, forever, all Soul Train viewers!

Foreword

Birth Of Soul Train Dynasty…

Don Cornelius created Soul Train. He was born on September 27th, 1936, in Chicago. Don served in the U.S. Marine Corps before taking a broadcasting course and becoming a radio station DJ. He transitioned to television in 1967 by appearing on WCIU-TV’s ‘A Black View of The News.’ Don began by hosting the Soul Train at Chicago high schools. It saw people of all creeds and colors sing and dance together. As a news personality Cornelius was not happy with reporting black crime while unreported police brutality was going on, his hope and dream that he made come true was to change how Black Americans were represented on screen.

WCIU-TV was keen enough to give Cornelius a chance as a weekday variety program; it premiered on August 17, 1970, in Chicago. Don moved the train out west to Southern California October 7th, 1971.

Cornelius was the first black man to own and produce a nationally syndicated franchise. That was the gateway that opened for me to get on board the train and become a part of this pop culture phenomenon that appealed to not only blacks but was a wide crossover to many audiences. I am sharing memories here, and offering insight into the show as a dancer, as well as talking about my wonderful life experiences I encountered growing up while dancing on the hippest trip in America, as there is no doubt that Soul Train left an indelible mark on our national consciousness. Now it is time to investigate all the excitement of my diary-like book, in this hippest book in America ‘Off the Tracks.’ It is my life story, but I unselfishly added a short but close significant look at an important timeline life process of Don Cornelius’ vision to help bring people together. At the end of the book, you will find a bonus ‘Myron’s Glam Photo Gallery.’

Table of Contents

Chapter 1:  A Dancer’s Dream

Chapter 2:  Getting on Board the Train

Chapter 3:  Center Riser Royalty Crowns

Chapter 4:  Studio 54 & Lovers 101

Chapter 5:  Barbara Jean’s Pearls of Wisdom

Chapter 6:  Off Stage Drama

Chapter 7:  My Dance and Music Career

Chapter 8:  My Adventures in Japan

Chapter 9:  Living the Glamorous Life in Japan

Chapter 10: Las Vegas

Chapter 11: The Grand Soul Train Christmas Gala

Chapter 12: Spa Treatment Secrets to A Healthy Dancer’s Body

Chapter 13: Covid 2020

Chapter 14: Staying in My Bubble During

Civil Unrest & Covid

Chapter 15: My Hobbies

Chapter 16: The Betrayal

Chapter 17: The Dirt

Chapter 18: Soul Train Royalty

Chapter 19: A Peek at My Family of Soul Train Dancers

Chapter 20: A Chart of The Shows Spin Offs as I Evolved

Chapter 21: My Thriving 30’s

Chapter 22: The Soul Train Influence

Chapter 23: Soul Train Music Awards Historic Events

Chapter 24: Billionaire Dance Clubs & Ultra Hot Restaurants

Chapter 25: The Enchantment of The Kentucky Derby

Chapter 26: Famous Hollywood Nightlife Glam Spots

Chapter 27: Celebrity & Royalty Leasing

Chapter 28: Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 29: Endearing Celebrity Friendships & Beach Living Leasing

Chapter 30: Saving the Planet, We Dance On

Chapter 31: Garden Oasis Designs

Chapter 32: My Real-Life Fairytale Princess Encounter…

Chapter 33: Malibu Rescue & Adventures on The Beach

Chapter 34: Recent Adventures

Chapter 35: Back to The Future

Chapter 36: Hot & Sexy Soul Train Performers & Dancers

Chapter 37: 50th Anniversary Soul Train Awards with Love

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Chapter 1

A DANCER’S DREAM

B EFORE JOINING SOUL Train at age 15, I was a Boy Scout in my youth, and I really enjoyed it. I was the only little black boy in my Boy Scout’s troop, and there were not any problems we all learned about brother hood.

I ran Track and Field, and I was also a Cross Country Runner. I loved roller skating on Venice beach and at World on Wheels, a famous roller-skating rink in the heart of L.A., where everybody hung out. It was a fun and popular place for all kids to skate to popular hit music for years.

Growing up in California in an upper middle-class area was a California dream. We had a guest house, pool, all that California cool stuff and it was fun! I still had friends from the hood too, they were fun to hang out with, and we had some great times together. Though I never got into any trouble as a kid with them; my mom was not having it. She always worried for my safety, being a black boy in the hood, usually meant you were in a gang, and she knew the peer pressure I was going to face if I hung out too long, so she insisted I focus on sports, music, and Track and field; she diverted my attention with activities like that.

I really respect my parents, so I let a lot of my friends go, and I really missed them, but I did not want my parents to be worried and upset. Plus being the oldest, and the 1st grandchild I was to set an example, for my brother and two sisters who did look up to me. This meant summers in the Bahamas, where I helped my grandmother on her farm. My grandmother educated me on everything she could about the farm life, and I sadly soon lost contact with most of the boys and girls from the hood I was hanging out with.

My little sister Paula is the sister I am closest to; however, she was strong willed, and she is hood for life. She just loves everybody, and they love her right back on both sides of the track. Paula likes to sometimes take those walks on the wild side, but she does respect the family and keeps it all legal. Being a hairdresser, she is around all different kinds of people that are just trying to get their hair done. Paula is a lot of fun, I love the way she accepts people for how they treat her, and not their background. We hang out to this day. She danced with me for a whole year in Japan as part of my dance group ‘Ebony Dancers,’ we will talk more about that magical experience in an upcoming chapter ‘Living the Glamorous Life in Japan,’ later in this book. It is an explosive story about our dance group being overseas living a real exciting, fabulous and glamorous lifestyle adventure.

As I was growing up and to this day my mom has always been very protective of us, but she never once allowed us to look down on anyone. My parents have been married for 60 years, and I follow their lead. I am still grateful for the friends and knowledge of street life; it is important to have that knowledge of the hood and keep some good friends from all walks of life.

The Dream of Dancing Began…

As a pre-teen. I always loved watching all the dance shows like Dance Fever, Solid Gold, American Bandstand, and Soul Train, you name it I watched and learned and practiced a lot.

I spent time dreaming of one day being on TV dancing, and the Soul Train show stuck out, because since I am a person of color it was cool to see people like me so happy, having a good time, with good music, and celebrities performing our favorite songs. Who would not want to be a part of all that fun?

Everyone on the show looked like they were having such a good time without a care in the world, just dancing happily. Everyone was watching Soul Train on Saturday, and picking up those 70’s vibes, making the 70’s a fun era to be a part of. People just seemed nicer, and more about just having a good time enjoying music and the fashions, Afro hair dos and all that went with the 70’s, what a fun time to grow up in especially with all the good music coming out.

I became obsessed with all things dance. I grew up vowing to myself to one day appear on one of those shows. I was on the lookout for how to achieve my dream. I just loved watching and imitating James Brown the most. Soon I joined the Lulu Washington Dance school, and it was on, from then on you could always find Myron somewhere dancing. I went to parties, won dance contests everywhere and enjoyed the experience.

Barbara, my mom (a fabulous cook), and my dad Eugene; the two of them loved to entertain on weekends. I was always asked to perform for them after dinner, and my sister Paula would do dance performances with me. This was my first experience of dancing in front of people, my family and friends, which helped train me tremendously for when I had to perform on TV in front of 1000’s of people, my parents had already groomed me for the big stage.

I was the oldest of four children, and as I was already running Track, dancing also became a sport to me. I became popular and known as the best dancer at my high school. At the dances all the girls wanted to dance with me, falling in love with my dancing and my green eyes I might add.

I went to a Catholic all boys school, so our dances were always together with a Catholic all girl school. I was popular at both schools, especially with all the fine girls. They wanted my phone number and address, and I made a lot of friends, but it was all centered around dance, because we all lived so far away from each other. Oh, how I wanted to date them though, a few I tried but it was just too far, and I was a kid without a car, so I just concentrated on my school, reading, track, dance, and Ice skating before and during my time dancing on Soul Train. I always stayed active enjoying myself to the fullest.

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Chapter 2

GETTING ON BOARD THE TRAIN

I REMEMBER IT LIKE it was yesterday. I was just a young boy, only 15 years old. As a young teen -a ger , I remember gathering around the TV with the entire family at 11 am every Saturday without fail for the TV dance show; they would set the weekend off to the newest fashions and hippest dance trends, a fun time for all who wat ched.

I was obsessed with the original Soul Train gang, they were all so fabulous, with their signature moves, and outrageous outfits I just had to be on that show. I perfected my own style, while watching the show for moves, putting my own spin on each dance step I could, and I soon perfected the dances, and was ready to achieve my goal of getting on the show.

It was very difficult to get any information on how to get on Soul Train, remember there was no Google in the 70’s so it was hard to figure out how to get on. I tried but to no avail. Magically then one day I saw my next-door neighbor’s granddaughter dancing on Soul Train. I waited patiently for months until she came to visit her grandmother’s house. I immediately asked her how did you get on the show? She gave me the number to the dance coordinator, Pam Brown. Pam told me she was holding auditions for couples at the Menlo Park recreation center, in south central L.A. I chose a beautiful girl as my dance partner for the audition, unfortunately she could not dance well enough, and we were rejected, but I was told that I was pretty good, and if I came back with a better partner, I would have a better chance at getting chosen to be on Soul Train. That was lesson number one in beauty is not everything, but skill is everything!

I was a bit disappointed but not discouraged and I went on a mission to find the best dance partner in Los Angeles. It took me a couple of months. I attended many high school dances, but could not find that special one, until one night I attended a dance at Dorsey High school and that is where I spotted Janelle Starks, she was beautiful and an incredible dancer.

I walked up to her and asked her to dance, and after we danced a few dances, the chemistry was there. We exchanged numbers, and I asked her if she would be interested in auditioning for Soul Train with me. She said, hell yes!

The following weeks we rehearsed for hours, and finally we were ready to audition. This audition I felt much more confident with her, even though there were a lot of other couples auditioning, we went in and nailed it, Pam and a lot of others there looked very impressed. I received a phone call from Pam, the next day with the good news, we made the list and got on the show. That just got me in the door, on the floor dancing which was a surreal moment for me. I was learning to fit in and started making friends; however, it was not quite the spotlight I desired. I knew I had to work hard to stand out for the spotlight, so I started perfecting my routine with Janelle.

I got on Soul Train almost the same time as I got on American Bandstand when I was just 16 years old. It was quite exciting for my family as well as myself. I was now more famous than ever for my dancing not only at school and after school dances but with my peers almost everywhere I went. Someone always recognized me, I must admit it felt good. I love people and meeting new people that already saw me dancing on TV was a thrilling adventure. I got to know a few of them, and their lives were interesting too. I learned a lot from people who just simply watched me on Soul Train. It was fun as we always found exciting ways to connect on some level related to dance.

I was not allowed to date until later towards the end of my senior year in high school. By then I was dancing and making lasting friendships on both dance TV shows.

Everyone that was not on the shows, was wondering how I managed to get on both shows at such a young age, I did not plan it like that, it just happened as I was perfecting my dancing.

I never dreamed I would get on the American Bandstand Show by 1978. All I did was go to a high school dance at St. Mary’s. I just danced and danced, loving it so I was on the dance floor almost the whole night. A girl named Becky was watching me and she came up to me, after watching me for some time, because I really did dance almost the entire night. She asked me would you like to dance with me on American Bandstand? I said yes, and soon the excitement began for me dancing on the American Bandstand show.

To my surprise when I got to the American Bandstand at ABC studios, they put Becky and I on the risers right away, without any hesitation. We got mad camera action; way more than I ever got on Soul Train at that time. I think we got more camera action on American Bandstand because it appeared they were trying to integrate the show. I danced on both shows for 2 seasons simultaneously.

It was an exhilarating experience, going back and forth dancing for the two shows. I was trying to create new moves, and new looks for both shows; this meant new outfits, and sometimes I felt like I was competing against myself, and I loved it!

At the end of Season 2, on American Bandstand the show was having a National Dance Competition. I was invited to compete, and I quickly accepted the invitation, it was an honor to be chosen for the 8-show taping competition. The audience had to call in to cast their vote on the couple they liked most. I really pushed myself to be the best, and soon I was ready with my new partner, a beautiful black princess Sherrie Foster, who could really dance. I met Sherrie on Soul Train. I was looking for a new dance partner for American Bandstand because right before the competition Becky informed me, she no longer wanted to dance on Bandstand and had stopped showing up completely. I was blessed to find Sherrie. American Bandstand started inviting me more and more to each taping and of course I brought Sherrie. We were a black power couple, killing it on the dance floor of American Bandstand. We quickly went into competition dance mode as soon as we were asked to compete in the National Dance Competition for Dick Clark.

Floor Managers on Soul Train…

I just wanted to take some time out right here and give props to the Soul Train Floor Managers. They worked very hard, to make sure the best dancers were placed in the best spots, because when that red camera light shined on you, you were in the spotlight. Some great dancers were put on the Risers. Sometimes once they got up there, they got nervous or camera shy from all the attention and pressure that was put on them, in the spotlight. I never had that problem, but I sympathized with those that did.

I understood just by watching a few of the dancers that it is one thing to be a good dancer when you are on the dance floor, however if you are not ready and are granted the direct spotlight and get cold feet it can be a fearful experience. Don was quick to spot it on his show, and no matter which stage manager put the dancer up there in the spotlight, if he saw the dancer could not handle the attention, he would have them replaced with a dancer who could handle it. Don had a good eye for making the show flow flawlessly.

Pam Brown was the stage manager when I first got on the show. She had a good eye for dancers too, and where they would be the most effective on the set and everyone got along well with her.

Then there was Chuck Johnson, a good friend of Don’s. They were always laughing and having a good time and worked well together on the show. Chuck was well respected by all the dancers on Soul Train also. Suddenly, he and Don got into it, and he left the show. Chuck went on to work for an enemy of Don’s and we never saw him again. I never really knew what happened, but we missed him.

The next Floor manager was Eric Kassim who was a dancer on the show with us before being promoted to Floor manager. He worked well with all the dancers, plus we all knew him from dancing together, and we all hung out with him at lunch. When I left the show in 1995 Eric was still the Floor manager.

When The Fame First Hit Me…

I was a bit timid and shy when I first danced on Soul Train, afraid of how I might look on TV but after watching myself on TV a few times I soon warmed up. I realized how I could improve my dancing and my look. It took a few episodes but eventually I began to master my performances and of course my looks. We were all learning and wanting the show to be a success, but some of us had no idea just how successful Soul Train was really becoming, until we kept seeing magazines with people all wearing our outfits, and sometimes hairstyles we had painstakingly created for the show; that awareness all helped dissolve my shyness completely, and I became the showman I had always dreamed of being. It was all so sensational for me.

The first-time fame really hit me in public outside the studio I remember I was in the Fox Hills Mall one day with my mom, we were in JCPenney and as my mom was shopping, I proceeded to the electronics department. There were over 25 televisions on display, all were playing different channels. I began turning all the TV’s channels onto channel 11 to watch Soul Train. After just a few minutes there was a crowd forming also watching Soul Train, then suddenly, this girl and her friends recognized me. The one girl screamed that’s you on the TV! That’s you! Within minutes there was a huge crowd and the store had to call security to get me and my mother out of the store safely. This was the first time my mom had seen my fans react to me like that. I remember we got in the car and my mom said, my baby is a star! After that for several years everywhere I went, I was quickly recognized as the good dancer from Soul Train, what a thrill that was for me.

After dancing on the show for a while, I also started to notice that everywhere I went I was seeing more and more people dressing like we were dressing on Soul Train, as a matter of fact it seemed like everybody was doing it. Then it finally hit me that we were also trendsetters, not just our hairstyles and using Afro Sheen products for our FRO’s but make-up, earrings, shoes and all our accessories on our shoes and in our hair too. It was quite fun seeing how some people were even putting their own twist on what they saw us wearing on TV. I absolutely loved it too. It did not take long for me to become accustomed to being on the show, because all of that also stopped my feelings of being such a newcomer. Instead, I felt like I was really coming into my own style and fitting in the longer I was on the show, getting noticed and most importantly I was doing a good job but that did not stop me from working hard to improve. I kept trying to create something no one was doing. That is when I gave birth to my signature Harlem Shake dance.

I realized in 2022 people still know me as the Father of the Harlem Shake when I heard a very popular Apple Daily Podcast show called ‘Talkin’ NOIZ,’ hosted by Lloyd H. Spence and many others refer to me as the Father of the Harlem Shake. I was so flattered by that well deserved title, as many do not know I really did invent it as the Shake and then people put their own twist on it later thus it evolved into the Harlem Shake.

Everyone started doing it in late 1981 when I first started doing it. The Shake later became the Harlem Shake as it traveled from the West coast via Soul Train through the Midwest and into the East coast.

The Harlem Shake did originate from me because my body is somewhat double jointed. The move just flowed off me naturally to the beat of certain songs and then it develops a life of its own as the music plays, that is what makes it so much fun to do because it becomes a part of your body’s interpretation of the beat of the music as you shake to the music as I did when I created it.

I enjoy watching anyone do any dance I ever created and then put their own spin on it, it is exciting to me. That is the thing about dance. You can create it, feel it, share it, and just watch it evolve because anyone can put their own spin on just about every move out there and make it their own letting the dance recreate itself to the beat of the music, it’s all so magical to watch a dance you created go out into the world, because it rarely comes back the exact same way you sent it out there and that’s the beauty of individuality through the expression of dance.

That is a big part of what makes watching dance so much fun, and exciting; because you just never know where the music is going to take the dancer, even if you know the dance, they are doing you are still going along for the ride of their own art in motion. I am a strong believer in making the dance your own, by putting your own signature and or spin on it but giving the original creator of any dance his or her props out of respect is true integrity. I honestly thank everyone who has graciously given me my props for the dances I create, especially the Shake.

As a youngster just starting out, I loved dancing, practicing, creating new dances, and the special dance training Don Cornelius gave his dancers at his very own private dance academy really helped us develop onto the stage. I still wanted to enhance my look with new clothes. I was so young, but I was ready to start working, even though I was having the time of my life dancing on Soul Train, I started looking for a job. I really wanted to dress up and buy new and exciting things to wear on TV. Everyone on the show that stayed on the show was doing the same thing, we all wanted to look our absolute best and that is why we all started looking for jobs to dress to impress. When I did finally start working and got my first paycheck from the job I got outside of Soul Train, you can believe I was out at the stores immediately shopping for things that looked good in the spotlight.

Ice Skating…

At 16, after I had landed my permanent spot-on Soul Train, my parents asked me to take my younger sister Janice Lee to her Ice-Skating lesson at the Culver City Ice Rink. Both our parents had to work on weekends sometimes. On Saturdays, when I was not filming on Soul Train, I took her to her lessons, for about 2 years and I learned a lot.

The place was upscale inside, but very cold, so I dressed accordingly. It was very nice, and I made a lot of friends there, with the other parents who had children in the classes. We had fun cheering the little ones on, as they dazzled on the ice. The other parents I met there were all very wealthy and fun to bond with, it was a large rink so there were quite a few of us braving the cold for our little stars on ice plus they had a fabulous snack bar. It was like being at the movie theater, the bleachers went all the way around so you could also just sit up there, and people watch the whole time, as there were other skaters on the ice too. They played some great bomb ass music! It was so much fun I started feeling the ice-skating bug a bit myself.

My little sister Janice Lee looked so cute in her little outfits on the ice, and she picked up fast, eventually she was doing the triple axel (which I know the range of factors of spinning like that in the air and landing on the opposite foot, as the skater must jump facing forward but land going backward, and an extra half-rotation is added to every axel jump, and not to mention the amount of rotational velocity which is shorter than a single or double axel, it requires skill and exact timing). Her teacher made it so easy to follow along, so after a few months of watching her, I started renting skates, and got on the ice myself, having learned a bit from watching for so many months I was now ready to give it a try.

It was colder on the ice than up in the bleachers, so I had to get the whole Ice-skating outfit. I picked it up at first, but I had to slow down as I realized this is not like roller skating at all, and I did not want to get hurt on the ice and ruin my dancing ability.

I was very careful, because dancing on Soul Train even though at only 16, I was still new at being on camera, dancing and keeping my body healthy and in good shape was always on the forefront of my mind in everything I did.

Janice soon excelled even greater on ice skates, my family and I wanted her to try out for the Olympics, and I am sure she could have been very good at it. Her heart was not really in it, and even though she was very good at it, my parents never forced any of us to do anything. She did however go on to college and do great things with her life.

My 1st Job Working for The Municipal Court System While Dancing On TV…

After graduating High School and having danced on Soul Train 2 years by now, my next-door neighbor set me up for a test to work at his city office job when I was only 18 years old. He worked for the City Courthouse, and I was so happy to pass the test. I went to work for the City Courthouse as a cashier for the Bail window.

This was a big deal for me because I was now making about $2,000 a month and living at home with no bills; and my dad drove me everywhere I went because my mother refused to let any of her children ride any public transportation.

It was quite an experience for me on my first job ever. I just loved having money. Now I could buy my own lunch on Soul Train and treat some of my fellow dancers to lunch.

I loved going shopping, buying fabulous costumes, and outfits for the show. I bought so many clothes, shoes, and accessories. Life was grand. I never had fun money before, so I enjoyed going out dancing every Friday, Saturday, and sometimes Sunday nights too while I was working at the courthouse. I always paid for my friends’ fun too. We were young and living it up glam style, but of course I had to go back to work on Mondays, so I did have to learn some discipline to keep that job.

On the job being only 18 I was really surprised and shocked at first with what people were bailing people out for, things like domestic violence, child molestation, these things broke my heart, and to see all the violence going on also. I would have never known what was going on right in south central, if I were not working in that department as a cashier, for bailing people out. This was the late 70’s, but things were very bad.

One day a group of