For 35 years, Don Cornelius andSoul Trainbrought Black music, dancing, fashion, and culture into living rooms across the country with the longest-running syndicated show in American television history.
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Soul Trainwas ab initio created as a local showcase for the musical talents and dancer of Chicago . When it expanded into broadcast syndication in 1971 , however , it beamed into homes across the United States — at a fourth dimension when only one other commercial-grade show made by shameful multitude for Black mass was air on TV .
The pioneering program would become the longest - running nationwide syndicate program in American TV history . Soul Traingave then - unknown melodious enactment and dancer a internal weapons platform they never had before , as refreshing natural endowment and style trends started reflecting the experiences of Black Americans at an unprecedented ordered series .
American funk band Cameo belting it out onSoul Train’s 491st episode on Nov. 30, 1985.
Soul Traindiscoveredtalents like Rosie Perez and Jeffrey Daniel who would asterisk in Oscar - nominated flick and teach Michael Jackson how to moonwalk . It allowed Black America to see itself onscreen in solemnisation of its culture — and render a mother wit of possession and authorship in how they were portray .
The History OfSoul Train
Born on Sept. 27 , 1936 , in Chicago , Illinois , Don Corneliusservedin the U.S. Marine Corps before taking a broadcasting course and becoming a wireless post disk jockey . He transition to television in 1967 by appearing on WCIU - TV’sA Black ’s horizon of the News — before channeling all of his get-up-and-go into curating local Black talent .
Cornelius began by hosting " The Soul Train " at Chicago mellow schools . It find people of all creeds and gloss spill the beans and trip the light fantastic toe together . A news anchor himself , Cornelius was rag at over - reported Black law-breaking and underreported police brutality — and hoped to change how Black Americans were represented onscreen .
WCIU - TV was wise enough to note the travel caravan ’s increase popularity and decided to put it on television receiver . There was certainly a market for it , as the only other show on TV made by black-market Maker for Black spectator wasSoul!Airing in black and white , Soul Trainpremiered on Aug. 17 , 1970 , as a weekday variety program .
The show ’s premise was nothing Modern . Cornelius himself pitchedSoul Trainas the " American Bandstandof color . " The fact that Black citizens were being represented onscreen as something other than comic substitute , pimps , or criminals getting arrested on the tidings , however , was rotatory .
" Watching my baby-sitter get the chance to go onSoul Trainwas like a dreaming issue forth true for her becauseSoul Trainwas the biggest thing then for the bootleg community,“recalledrapper Common . " It gave ordinary , daily masses an opportunity to express themselves . It show us that we , too , have a place on TV . "
Cornelius had become one of the first Black Americans to create , own , and produce his own TV show . line of aspiring youths eager for a prospect circled the mesh edifice . Soul Trainturned into a national show filmed in Los Angeles by 1971 — and premiere on Oct. 2 .
Soul TrainDancers AndSoul TrainFashion
Soul Trainbecame unmissable appointment reckon and a hebdomadal political party for jillion every Saturday . Each episode sport the talented " Soul TrainDancers " pepper the terpsichore flooring — and decipher the identity element of that week ’s melodious node from the disorderly up letter of the alphabet on the " Soul TrainScramble Board . "
" All of the sudden on TV , I saw vernal Black kids around my eld , doing what I love to do best — dancing and looking good while doing it , " saidSoul TrainDancer Jeffrey Daniel . " Up until then when we were seen on telecasting we were either being chased by police , or sell drugs , or engaged in some floozy eccentric of drollery .
" From that second on , it was my lifetime ambition to be on that program . "
Daniel was cast as a fan - favourite dancer and became a regular on the " Soul TrainLine " which saw dancers stand up opposite another in two lines and each get a present moment to shine by dancing in the middle . While the tax schedule take social dancer to shoot a calendar month ’s Charles Frederick Worth of episodes in two day , Daniel came fain :
" When I ’m looking back at the tape recording , what really stand out to me are the colouring . I miss those crumple pants and the tweed shirts and those sick approach pattern printed on them . I lose the striped air sock and chopine skid . The clothes were so well-to-do , coloured , and expressive . The fashion really shows the era . "
sensation soon clamored to be on the show . Aretha Franklin appeared at the superlative of her life history . Stevie Wonder risked improvize a raw vocal on stage while The Jackson 5 were practically regular . From Al Green performing with a broken arm to David Bowie and Elton John , Soul Train took the land by storm .
The show practically help as an sense of hearing mag tape for fellowSoul TrainDancer Rosie Perez , who would later be cast in Spike Lee’sDo The Right Thingand become a house name . Daniel himself , meanwhile , initiate the backslide dancing move — whichSoul Trainfan Michael Jackson turned into the moonwalk after having Daniel teach him .
" Soul Trainwas so personal to me — it started my whole career , " said Daniel . " But more importantly , it was something that reflected young Black America . "
After looking at 29 Soul Train photo , take a look at44 classic photograph of ' 90s hip - hop culture . Next , scan aboutAmerica ’s seven Black billionaires .
