Christa Lee and The Tale about her Soul Train Ride

Here we have words from Christa LassiterLee: Submitted on 2008/07/06 at 1:23 pm

I just love this poem! I can really visualize being there again. I danced on Soul Train in 1975. It was a dream come true for me after watching the show from its very beginning and wanting to jump through the tV screen to be a DANCER!

How it began………

Being from New Jersey, I had to come up with a plan as to how I would set out about accomplishing my dream. I got into Pepperdine University! Great school, yet the plan was not really to get an education it was my way to stardom! I remember setting my plan into motion as soon as I took my seat on the plane. I would get to school, unpack and then begin my investigation into what I would need to do to get on the show.

My dreams seemed to shatter when I found out that I would need to know a regular and then maybe that could get me an audition. Well, I was determined so I found out where and when they were taping and just went over there and stood by the line. I spotted Jefferey Daniels from Shalamar. I though OH MY GOSH! that is really him and how CUTE! I decided to go over and start talking with him. He was very nice and we talked a good 20 minutes. He seem a little anxious and I did not know why, I thought maybe he was a little nervous about me ( I could have been a stalker), but I eventually found out what he was so antsy about……to my absolute fantasy come true!! His partner Jodi Watley was not there and as they were opening the doors to let everyone in, he turned to me and said “my partner is not here do you want to dance with me”…….THANK GOD ABOVE!! I was in! That was one of the most exciting times of my life, excluding the birth of my SON!

The rest is history! I eventually got my twin sister on the show with me. It is especially wonderful for me now that I have footage of us together on the show since she passed away in 1993 in a tragic car accident.

I have a lot of fond memories of the show! Jefferey and Tyrone were a couple of my favorite guy friends and Sharon Hill and Keedah…. were always so sweet to me and my sister. Of course all the acts were good!, but a few stand out in my mind for different reasons….I guess my favorite acts would have to be the Sylvers, Whispers and Brothers Johnson.

Why, because I dated Leon for a minute (lol), my sister and I went out on a few dates with the BJ and the TWINS from the Whispers became our friends. For years, back in the 90s when they were performing in the East we would go and hang out with them. I have not spoken to them in years now but I will always remember the good times we shared with them.

Thank you for sharing your story and starting this forum Keedah.

LOVE PEACE AN SSSOOOOOOUUUULLLLLLL TRAIN! xoxo

“Locking” Up a Soul Train Tale From OG Skeeter Rabbit as told to OG Keedah

Many people continue to ask about other experiences and former dancers. That was when it occurred to me to ask the dancers I was still in contact with to tell me, or write their experiences down so we can share with others.

A Soul Train and Locker Legend

James Higgins Jr. “OG Skeeter Rabbit” was the first to respond.
I asked him to respond to some or all of these questions.

What year did you dance on the show?
Who were your partner/s and friends?
What are your fondest memories of Soul Train?
Favorites acts?
Etc.
You might have questions for other dancers as well, so let’s hear them.

You know how we do it….
Love, Peace, and Soooul!!!!
(O)riginal (G)oddess KEEDAH

From OG SkeeterRabbit
My story and history involved with Locking and “The LOCKERS” is a remarkable one..That is why I put the website www. lockerlegends. net together. We all know that dance nicknames were our identity, and I was both surprised and hurt that my UNIQUE name was being used.
But what further shocked me is being that use was endorsed by some of the very friends in which lived the dance Art forms subculture with me. During the 70s I began in High school with “The GoGo Brothers and danced on some of the Original SOUL TRAIN Sets in 1972.

I remember the auditions in the park gym, I remember the Lynn Collins song “Think” playing over and over as regulars and hopefuls would come down the Line in front of Pam Brown. I remember when the show temporarily moved from KTTV studios to ABC studios. And the most memorable show I was on was definitely the live “James Brown Show”. It was powerful, the interview, songs , the inspiration and movement of the day all in ONE SHOW.
I had a few partners Jerri Turner, Candy Boone, Lorna Dune, and “Netta Bug” were all my partners. I danced with various groups some before the Lockers were put together, One group in 1973 had Me Tony & Buddy GoGo, Greg “Campbell Jr”. Pope, Jimmy “Scooby doo” Foster, Shelly Cepeda, Arnetta Johnson and Lorna Dune (and sometime Freddi Maxie) the group was called “Creative Generation”. It was sponsored by the world famous “Watts Writers Workshop..”

I later took Slim’s place and toured with the Lockers on the Frank Sinatra tour, I was to receive a permanent contract with the group. But the name was never changed with both managements Sinatra’s and ICM. From when the W2 ICM had no acknowledgement of me being with the group. So my forms were sent to Slim. That’s when me and my family found out I was paid only a percentage of the pay by Toni Basil. She threatened me and my family to not report anything to ICM or take legal action, so I left the group and went on to perform on the CHER show and form another group. During my 20 years as a Deputy Sheriff, throughout the 80s and 90s I would periodically hear that there was another Skeeter Rabbit out there. My son was in a dance class in high school when he wrote a paper on ME and took a picture of me. The teacher (who knew Stephan Nichols) called him and me a fraud, my son was devastated.

When I retired as a Deputy Sheriffs Detective I began to research the name, and it shocked me. Because the NAME was so unique, (Skeeter I had since birth, and Rabbit was added in 1972 when I was first seen doing the Skeeterrabbit step)I knew it was not by accident, I caught up with Don Campbell on the phone. He told me that Greg Pope had given Stephan Nichols my name, I then found a website and it sold DVDs of Stephan Nichols Locking. It said he learned to Lock from Greg Pope in 1974. That was impossible and I was confused and devastated.

But the story gets even deeper, Tony GoGo sent for me to come to Japan in 2004, The Electric Boogaloos was also there, when I met Stephan he said he meant no disrespect. We sat down and he told me this… In the late 70’s early 80’s he would meet Greg, Basil, and Shabbadoo at a club in Hollywood. They would get in free, so one time at the door, Basil and Greg introduced him as “SkeeterRabbit” and the management had heard of me . So they let him in from that point on. HE BACAME KNOWN AS SKEETER RABBIT and it was never corrected. So you see how the commercial world of streetdance. Stephan said he would use the name Big Skeet of the EBs from that point on ‘ But unfortunately the dance world would not let decades of misuse be undone. So strangely now I’m known as OG SkeeterRabbit

Thank you for reading,

If you would like to see recently posted videos please go to the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/user/lockerlegends?feature=watch

A SOUL TRAIN TALE FROM THE ORIGINAL GODDESS KEEDAH

Once upon a 1970′s groove time in the City of Angels, there was talk of a some dance and play from around the way via Chicago.
The lines were knee deep of those waiting for a chance to take a ride on the Soul Train.
Lil Joe was big on the show and invited my older sister Choisette to party-ticipate.
Toward the track hoofed her stallion stack, dressing each carbon thigh boot, and red natural hair in a pink hot pants suit.
That girl could DAAANCE!
A bullet belt across her chest
If you ask me, she danced the best but…. I’m partial.

As they would Rock Steady, Cole Eddie was high steppin’ with Wanda Fuller on each beat.
Rene Cris taco cooking, Tyrone Proctor The Dance Doctor looking.
Prognosis, do tell?
All is well.

Mod Rod Moss my high school boyfriend was boss in the mix, while Mr. X was doing kicks with his six pack and tooth brush tricks.
Tony Clay was shooting bricks and molding a way for a month stay in his apartment for me and my baby boy. Thank you again Tony.

Thelma and Pat Davis raining soul while The Staples Mavis would witness their dancing up a storm.
Leonard Jones the martial artist, with smooth kicks and music licks.

Then Fran and Fred “Rerun” Berry Gordy shoulda recorded his lightly but politely stepping.
Soulful feet, Pop Locking with the ancestor’s beat, he had the combination to the Lock.
Slim the Robot, said “I’ll show you what I got”. Jamming with Don the first Campbell and others later on, like Booglaloo Sam and Poppin Pete.
Tito would eat my sisters chili then cheese the night away.

If I could keep track of every name I could step up my game, but I not with it all the time.

The Grigsby brothers 3, had us laughing and full of comedy.
Trek over to Bonita and Sharon “Pretty Smile” Hill.
There was Niles sooo Gaye, we danced many a night away.
Sami McKinney and the girl kinda guys did what they did, and few hid.
Michael James tried to shock me with the “women are the dinner, but men are the dessert” line.
Mickey Lorde have mercy, my friend I managed as a male exotic dancer, and Billy Starling was a prancer always fussing about something.

Out of the blue came Lester Lang, that singing thang, and father of my niece Chenaanah. Of course there’s mi otra sobrina Shalimar who was born a star and had a group named after her.

The Goddess consented to dance with Bernard Toller and not too tight did he  hold her. He just let her flow.
Tyrone dived in wearing beige along with me and everyone asked “are you two family?”
Of course we were. We were and are all related anywho, old and new, dancers, staff, and crew.
With all that went on and down there were times we were at ONE.
Perfectly.

Sid the Real McCoy voice of Don‘s show, his daughter Terry employed as a page with a pretty look, on to direct the entire book. Go head on Terry McCoy!
Pam, Alonzo “Dee Dee” and Rick Brown always holding it down, when need be.
Aida don’t play, Dear Dobie, Mellow Clyde, Joe (Gentleman) Henderson, Ruth Baby, Mellow Michelle, Sweet Jolly, with Chuck and his Johnson.

How about the Pasadena folks more than a few, a bunch of them and who knows who?

Lest I forget one of the coldest yet, Damita Jo Freeman. That says it all just her name, everyone liked her, she was always the same.
Gary Keyes to my heart. My friend who adored me and took me on the show.
If anyone has seen him, please let me know.
Where’s Sandra White that girl could get down, with her orange ‘fro and skin of brown.

Bruce Talamon photo taking, memory making, still stopping to capture it all. I heard Bobby Washington is taking pics too and having a ball.

There was Freddie Maxi most, Regal Ingrid, Crystal clear and Sherry like a bronze cool blend, Michael The Walker step ball changing the way I saw a few things, Chris Benabie be partnering up with Tee, James Benjamin and his friend looking like royalty to me.
Where’s that Fred, who was kinda crazy in the head?
Then thin suave Charles Lil Abner, and the dudes he hung with in the mean in between.

Christa Lee and her Twin be a set of angels now and then.
Oh and David Vincent with those outrageous blue contact lens.
Skeeter James friendly Rabbit,  The Legendary Soul Brothers and Scoobie what you gonna Doo, just to name a few.

Most I recalled and some I did not, we rode the “Hippest Trip” and that’s something in common we’ve got.
In my mind I see some faces and I don’t always get the names in the right places.
Charge it to my head and not my heart and I shall just run a tab of which I will pay in part with words and deeds cuz some of these stories need to be told.
Our yesterdays made us into today, and though we renew ourselves and are not always what we were, we are Soul and Love.

At least 16 of the people I included in here have made a transition and I pray they Rest In Peace. Their memory will live on.

Sometimes people would say they were happy for the closing of the show and had had enough when we wrapped after taping a number of shows in one weekend.
My heart would race and sometimes it felt I would use up my last heart beat on Soul Train from the rush I felt when we said:
“SOOOOUL!!!!!”
There was NOTHING like it.

The Original Goddess Keedah. (Yes I’m still rather GRAND!!!) lol

What is Hip? Soul Recollections From Original Goddess Keedah

WHAT IS HIP? BOLD LYRICS BY TOWER OF POWER VIDEO BELOW T.O.P. AND CARLOS SANTANA

TOP VIDEO REPRESENTS ME, THE O.G. (ORIGINAL GODDESS) DURING MY SOUL TRAIN DANCE DAZE.

What is hip?
Tell me, tell me, if you think you know.

She sat near the entrance door at USC collecting tickets for L.A. High School’s 1993 Reunion.
As a favor to her sister-in-law Anita, she is there assisting a year after missing her 20th year reunion from that school.

Her brother in law Henry is jamming like nobody’s business on his bass guitar as he did in and out of L.T.D.
And the band played on:
If you’re really hip,
the question, “Will it show?”

She sings instead:
If you’re really hip
“the passing years’ll show”

A guy approaches and says “heeey didn’t you used to dance on Soul Train. My brother had a big crush on you. I remember your mole. You look just like yourself.”
She tells him it was a long time ago and she’s still herself, as his woman yanks his arm.
He walked away bobbing his head.
Shortly after he came back out towards her.
The ex-dancer swirled her finger around 360 degrees and pointed to the door. He got the cue to go back to who he came with.

Seen in all the right places.
Seen with just the right faces.
You should be satisfied, but it ain’t quite right.

She does not want another somebody’s man again.

Hipness is. What it is!
Knowing Bobby “Blue” Bland was singing to and about her in “Going Down Slow” when she was 20 and trying to slow her row.

Hipness is. What it is!
Deciding when Linda Jones sang “Hypnotized” she had to make it be about The Revolution and not her fine boyfriend.

Hipness is. What it is!
She was alright with not wanting to know a current dance, clothing trend, style of skating, or hair do, she just ‘made do’.

You went an’ found you a guru.
In an effort to find you a new you,
And maybe even raise your conscious level

Time has been good to her and is “her friend.”
She has all the time in the world.
From here to now on.

She watches no tv soap opera, SHE IS the soap opera.
She is The Movement… Inside and Out….It’s in her hands and arms, the way she leans back into the chair.
She can silently speak of technique, for guiding her magical voice with the ‘just right’ inflection.
She runs with equestrian abandon, and her pony tail.
She positions her arched feet just right while standing.
She holds her long neck with ease and grace.
She winks to adults and children with perfect timing.
She is what it is all about. Everything is about her.

While you’re striving to find the right road,
There’s one thing you should know,
“What’s hip today, might become passe’.”

As she sways to the music she sees and feels nothing but herself. She reallly loves herself and it tired of being told it’s too much.
She remembers when she didn’t, but she wants to forget.
She tried to make herself into a dollar after feeling like less than fifteen cent.
Everything she’s told to like and love is just for the minute and outside of herself.

What is hip y’all?
What is hip?
I wanna know.
What is hip?
Ahhhhhhh!
What is hip?
I wanna know what hipness is.

She commends the band members on how they played, “What is hip”.

One of them say: “Is that what it’s called?”
Henry had jammed it so long and so hard and was so in the groove it didn’t matter what it was called.
He was just doing it, just feeling it, and just being it.

She glanced in the mirror at her mane and sang:
What is hip?
Is it in the style of your hair?

Is she hip?
Yes indeed.

S.urely
H.ip
E.nough

Born
that
way.

May 15, 2008
(O)riginal (Goddess) Keedah

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