Memories of hip trips aboard ‘Soul Train’

• Reprints

Richard Darryl Nichols on the platform where Don Cornelius would make his announcements and the famous “Soul Train” closing line. The photo was taken during a break from taping in 1981, when Nichols appeared on the show. | Photo Provided

When I heard the news that “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius had died I immediately had a Saturday morning flashback to watching cartoons, eating a bowl of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and waiting for that magical hour to arrive.

You did not need any luggage or a ticket to go on what Cornelius called “the hippest trip in America.” All you needed was a TV with loud volume and enough room to make a dance floor, as there was no way you could watch “Soul Train” and not dance.

The biggest names in R&B and those who were new to the game got a spotlight to stardom. The dancers and their outfits, shoes and hairstyles throughout the 40 years were a weekly fashion show.

Many of those dancers found their own spotlight after the ride: Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels went on to form the hit-making singing trio Shalamar with Howard Hewitt. Fred “Rerun” Berry took his pop-locking moves to a TV sitcom called “What’s Happening!” which also starred Gary native Ernest “Raj” Thomas.

Other dancers went in different directions. While talking to my older sister Robin about Cornelius, I asked which one of our cousins was a “Soul Train” dancer when “Soul Train” first went on the air in Chicago on WCIU-TV, now also known as “The U.”

Robin reminded me that it was our cousin Doll (her nickname) who, along with a lot of young Gary citizens, would take the South Shore to Chicago and arrive at the TV station in time to dance live on “Soul Train.”

Another “Soul Train” dancer was Gary native Richard Darryl Nichols, who went to California at the urging of his longtime friend Reggie Thornton.

Nichols arrived in Los Angeles Aug. 24, 1981, and before he knew it, joined Thornton as a Soul Train dancer.

“I was a dancer from September to December and the only reason I was on ‘Soul Train’ was because Reggie got me in,” Nichols said with a laugh.

Nichols said he has two left feet.

“Reggie was the dancer, I just went along and shake-and-fake my way on the dance floor! We were told to bring different sets of clothes because they taped a month of shows in one day. And we were paid with all the Kentucky Fried Chicken and pop we could digest,” Nichols said.

“I also got the chance to see a lot of celebrities and have fun and have great memories.”