A former journalist and disc jockey, Don Cornelius created Soul Train in October 1971. The syndicated music variety show featured black performers and spotlighted the latest dance and fashion trends. But as rap and hip-hop rose to prominence in the 1980s, Cornelius missed the bandwagon, balking at the steamy, suggestive dance moves. Celebrate a time when a ride on the Soul Train was the "hippest trip in America." DJs Lady Panther and Sike (Meghan Whelan and Phil Shafer, respectively) host Soul Train Dance Party, the second in a series of Soul Train tributes. This time around, the duo concentrates on the sounds of the '80s. "I play all vinyl, so my picks are ones I've scoured record stores for: 'Part-Time Lover' by Stevie Wonder, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, and anything from Grace Jones' Nightclubbing," Whelan says. "I also picked up some Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Kool Moe Dee." Period-appropriate dress is rewarded with prizes for the most fresh and fly. The jams start to kick at 10 p.m. for this free, 21-and-older event at the Brick (1727 McGee, 816-421-1634).
