Darcel Leonard Wynne facts for kids
Darcel Leonard-Wynne (born June 13, 1951, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), also known as Darcel, is an African-American dancer, choreographer, author, and producer. She is most famous for leading the "Solid Gold Dancers" on the popular 1980s music TV show Solid Gold.
Early Life and Dance Career
Darcel grew up in a family of steelworkers. She started dancing when she was just three years old! Her family later moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, where she continued her dance training.
She began performing in local variety shows. Soon, she joined famous TV shows like Carol Burnett Show and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Darcel also toured and danced with the music group The Temptations. She even performed with Pearl Bailey in the musical Hello, Dolly!.
As Darcel became more well-known, she appeared in several movies. These included Xanadu, Funny Lady, and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also danced in the music video for "Fresh" by Kool & the Gang. On television, she was seen on shows like The Sammy Davis Jr. Show and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
Dancing on Solid Gold
Darcel first appeared on the hit TV show Solid Gold during a special called Solid Gold '79. She was one of eight dancers on this special. Because the special was so popular, Solid Gold became a weekly series in 1980. Darcel and three other dancers from the special joined the new weekly show.
Darcel was a main dancer on Solid Gold for the first four seasons, from 1980 to 1984. During the second season, she became very popular. She often danced solo during the show's "Top 10 countdown."
After 1984, Darcel left the show to travel with her husband, Glenn Leonard, who was a singer with The Temptations. They worked together in a Christian ministry. She returned to Solid Gold in the summer of 1985. In Season 6, her role grew even bigger. She became a part-time host, speaking often on the show. She even regularly announced the Top 10 countdown. Darcel was the first celebrity to do the famous Top 10 countdown on Late Show with David Letterman.
Personal Life
Darcel is married to Glenn Leonard, who used to sing with The Temptations. She has three grown children.
Today, Darcel lives in Los Angeles. She teaches dance and choreography to older women, whom she calls her "Seasoned Beauties." She also stays connected with her fans on social media.
Darcel has written a book about her life called Darcel: Solid Gold. The book shares many parts of her journey. It talks about her rise to fame, the challenges she faced, her marriage, and her experiences behind the scenes of Solid Gold. It also shares her efforts to bring dance into the church and her return to Hollywood.
