Where this was said
Stars Made on Soul Train: Jody Watley, Carmen Electra, Rosie Perez
At 39:00 · chapter starts 36:25
Don Cornelius had an eye for talent that extended well beyond music booking. He spotted teenage dancer Jody Watley, paired her with Jeffrey Daniel, and effectively created Shalamar in 1977, launching what would become a major R&B act followed by Watley's even bigger solo career. Carmen Electra — born Tara Lee Patrick, a detail Josh finds deeply amusing — got her start here, as did Nick Cannon and Cheryl Song, notable as the first Asian dancer on Soul Train. The most colorful story belongs to Rosie Perez, who came up in the '80s with her New York hip-hop style and became a standout so fast that Cornelius wanted to lock her into a contract. When she responded by asking to show it to a lawyer, Cornelius grabbed her — a decision he likely came to regret almost immediately. Perez threw fried chicken at his face and that, apparently, ended the conversation. Chuck notes that Don Cornelius was later charged with domestic violence against his wife, adding nuance to the portrait of a complex man. [1] — Josh Clark "Rosie Perez rose quickly as a Soul Train dancer with her New York hip-hop style. When Don Cornelius tried to lock her into a contract and s…" 38:00
Don Cornelius spotted teenage dancer Jody Watley on Soul Train and paired her with Jeffrey Daniel; they formed the group Shalamar in 1977.
Rosie Perez rose quickly as a Soul Train dancer with her New York hip-hop style. When Don Cornelius tried to lock her into a contract and she asked to show it to her lawyer, he grabbed her. Her response: fried chicken, aimed directly at his face. That's how she tells it.
Dick Clark attempted to start a competing show called Soul Unlimited on ABC, which was widely seen as a direct ripoff of Soul Train and was quickly canceled after protests by Black leaders.
Dick Clark, already a TV mogul with American Bandstand, launched Soul Unlimited on ABC — a literal copy of Soul Train. Black leaders protested, calling it an inappropriate appropriation, and the show was quickly canceled. Soul Train was left to stand on its own, as it should have been.
