In the beginning...
The Lockers
Locking or Campbellocking was created by Don Campbell on the streets and in the clubs of Los Angeles in the early 1970's.
It wasn't long before Don was invited to dance on the TV show Soul Train where he became so popular that he was asked to bring in more dancers who knew his style. Later they got kicked off the show for asking to be paid (Soul Train was a non paying gig). Don got his guys together and with the help of well known TV choreographer Toni Basil created The Campbellock Dancers. The group would later change their name to The Lockers who without a doubt have been the most influential street dance group of all time.
The Electric Boogaloos
The birth of the EB's began in Fresno, California...
Inspired by a TV performance of The Lockers, in 1975 a young man by the name of Sam Soloman decided to create his own style of dancing which later came to be known as boogaloo or boog style.
In 1977, Sam became the leader of a group named the Electronic Boogaloo Lockers (all of whom had been influenced by The Lockers). Together they would develop the style which became known as Popping and Boogaloo.
1978 saw Sam (now Boogaloo Sam) moving to Longbeach and re-naming the group to The Electric Boogaloos, the original group being Boogaloo Sam's younger brother Timothy 'popin pete' Soloman, Tickin Deck, Robot Dane, Puppet Boozer, Creepin Sid, Scarecrow Sculley, Darryl (King Cobra) & George (King Rattler). Pete took the dance style to a whole new level and the Electric Boogaloos became another pioneer street dance group who influence and inspire generations of dancers to this day.
Jeffrey Daniel
Growing up in Los Angeles, Jeffrey was enthralled by The Lockers and would soon follow in Don Campbell's footsteps to become a Soul Train dancer.
Jeffrey and his Soul Train dance partner Jodi Watley along with Howard Hewett later became the world famous soul funk group Shalamar. In 1982 Shalamar were due to perform on Top of the Pops (UK's biggest chart show). With Jodi Watley falling pregnant, Jeffrey decided to do a solo performance that changed the lives of many people. He came out to one of Shalamar’s biggest hits 'A Night to Remember' and ‘popped’ all the way through. He also demonstrated the Back Slide which is now known worldwide as the Moonwalk. It was the first time the UK and Europe had seen anything like it.
The Twilight Players
The Twilight Players are: Sinbad Phgura and his younger brothers, Ammo 'Too Sweet' and Jimi 'The Quiff'.
Sinbad learnt his skills firsthand in mid-eighties Los Angeles from his mentor Jeffrey Daniel. He returned to England to form Twilight East, a dance group incorporating Boogaloo and Locking. Later he joined forcer with his brothers and 'The Twilight Players' were born.
Sinbad was one of the first UK pioneers of the west coast dance styles and The Twilight Players achieved major recognition this year by being awarded the first ever UK OG's 4 Life Award at the prestigious Carnival Choreographers Ball 2005.
