When Bossy was a girl she never missed an episode of Soul Train, a music variety show featuring R&B, soul, funk, disco, gospel, dunk, fosgel, and risco.
The series was created in 1971 by its first host and executive producer, Don Cornelius.
It wasn’t so much the fashion Bossy tuned in to see, or even the first glimpse of unknown artists who would later become huge. Plain and simple, Bossy watched Soul Train because she loved the Soul Train line.
For those who aren’t familiar with a Soul Train Line because your solar capsule just landed on Neptune — or you are pleasingly younger than Bossy — dancers divide into two columns facing each other and those at the top of the columns take turns dancing down the center:
Sometimes you dance down the lane alone, or sometimes you dance with a partner, but the idea is to bring your game.
Don Cornelius passed away last week from an apparent suicide. Bossy regrets she never had the chance to thank him for bringing the Soul Train Line into her life.
Bossy is pleased to report she still regularly attends parties that aren’t considered complete until the candle wax forms stalagmites on the table, and everyone has done their thing down the center of two columns of grooviness.
Charlie says
February 5, 2012 at 5:18 pmCornelius brought so many heavy hitters in soul and R&B to a national TV audience. Sad to hear of his passing.
And for your readers from Neptune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7KawdsVSQ&feature=related
dgm says
February 5, 2012 at 5:32 pmAin’t a party til there’s a soul train line!
Twisted Susan says
February 5, 2012 at 8:17 pmAmen, sister.
Those are great photos of your neighbors.
Mocha says
February 5, 2012 at 8:56 pmLove this so much. You have the ability to remind me of how wonderful my youth was and how wonderful you still are.
Catherine McP says
February 6, 2012 at 12:42 amBless you Bossy (if I had the power to bless) I sure as hell use to try and imitate the dancers. Well, I still cant dance but I sure gave it my all!
joeinvegas says
February 6, 2012 at 1:32 pmEveryone in white and smiling – what kind of parties to you go to?
Jami says
February 6, 2012 at 5:51 pmAt Jami’s friend Sherrill’s parties, it wasn’t officially a party until everyone had a few (dozen) drinks, went out in her back yard and sang Happy Birthday as loudly and as badly as they could (because it’s always SOMEONE’s birthday) and then came in and danced around the big island (an island like Australia is an island) in Sherrill’s giant kitchen to music that probably got its first exposure on Soul Train.
I miss Sherrill and Soul Train.
the muskrat says
February 6, 2012 at 8:12 pmThis here was some fine television. Fine.
Karen says
February 6, 2012 at 8:30 pmThere’s no way NOT to smile while watching Soul Train. Such fun! Your own line looks really fun, too. Jam on–
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
February 6, 2012 at 9:56 pmBossy’s definition of a successful party matches mine to the T, which stands for Train as in Soul Train–the Soul Train Line.
#notfromNeptune #livedforSoulTrain
Chesapeake Bay Woman says
February 6, 2012 at 9:59 pmMaybe I am from Neptune, where they probably say things like matches mine to *the* T instead of a T.
Suzi says
February 7, 2012 at 9:24 pmParty where everyone is not just wearing white, but wearing HATS! We did the stroll down our line. But I did watch Soul Train even though I was married with children when it started in Chicago.