OUT & ABOUT: The World’s Longest ‘Soul Train’ Line

BY DENISE CLAY/ For those of us downtrodden Philadelphians who can’t get into the Wells Fargo Center to check out coach Doug Collins’ Sixer wunderkinds, something else was needed to cheer up our spirits. Because Philly has such big problems, it needed something big to make it smile, something that it could hold onto for awhile. Something positive that would distinguish it on a national level.

How about the world’s longest “Soul Train” line?

On Monday, about 2,000 people gathered at the steps of the Museum of Art to get their groove on and break the Guinness Book of World Records mark for the longest “Soul Train” line. A group of organizers including community activist and radio host Manwell Glenn, Sheila Simmons, Radio One’s Dyana Williams and E. Steven Collins, and Philadelphia Tribune arts and entertainment reporter Bobbi Booker put together an event that was loads of fun.

The impetus behind the line attempt was a painful moment that happened 3,000 miles away from Philadelphia. Don Cornelius, the ubiquitous host of “Soul Train”, died on Feb. 1. Philadelphia played a special part in the show because the “Soul Train” theme song, best known as “The Sound of Philadelphia”, was written by our own local hitmakers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Because of how important the show was to a generation of young African Americans, the first show to feature artists never given this kind of platform before, Cornelius’ death hit a lot of people hard. As time went on, folks found out that the hit wasn’t just restricted to Blacks.

So Glenn had an idea: How about honoring Cornelius’ memory by breaking the Soul Train line world record?

It wasn’t easy by a long shot. The Guinness Book of World Records people are fairly rule-oriented. There’s a way that things have to be organized, there are applications that have to be filed, and that doesn’t even include what you need to do to get the City to allow you to do this on City property.

But on Saturday night, the Worst Black History Month for Musical Icons Ever continued when the word got out Grammy-winning artist Whitney Houston had died in Beverly Hills. She was 48.

The gathering on the Art Museum steps also became a chance to honor her memory, and many of her songs were played as part of the line dance. There was also a condolence card that fans could sign as a show of respect for Houston and her legacy.

There’s a song by the ’80s New-Wave band Roxy Music that has the lyric “Dance away the heartache … dance away the pain.…”

In a lot of ways, that’s what Philadelphians did on Monday. As I said earlier, Philly has been through a lot these days. On top of losing a generation of our kids to murder, our icons were also dying.

But while they were on the Soul Train line, people were able to celebrate the lives of a pair of music superstars by enjoying what they brought to the table.

Now let’s get to the important part: Did Philly break the Soul Train line record?

Well, the original record, which was held by Berkeley High School in Berkeley, Calif., was 211. By the time that the dancing was done, 327 people had boogied down a very, very long Soul Train line.

However, New York City is talking about organizing its own record attempt.

Bring it on, kids! With Welcome America around the corner, I think we can take you!

SHERIFF Jewell Williams picks his Fro, Congressman Bob Brady has his party tambourine, Mayor Michael Nutter and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown were first four to dance down Soul Train Line at Art Museum as 327 other participants set record in honor of Don Cornelius, “Soul Train” host, bettering Guinness World Record of 211 held by California high school. Photo: Martin Regusters, Leaping Lion Photography

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