Soul Train

Soul Train
source
Show name	Soul Train
Genre	Music variety show
Creator	Don Cornelius
Starring	Don Cornelius; various hosts and performers
Country	United States
Language	English
Num seasons	35
Executive producer	Don Cornelius
Runtime	90 minutes (early); 60 minutes (later)
Company	Soul Train Productions; Tribune Entertainment
Network	WGN-TV (local); syndication (national)
First aired	1970
Last aired	2006

Soul Train was a long-running American music television program that showcased African American musical styles, dance, and fashion from 1970 to 2006. Created and hosted by Don Cornelius, the program became a national platform for rhythm and blues, soul, funk, disco, hip hop, and contemporary R&B artists. The show blended live performances, choreographed dance sequences, and interviews, influencing popular culture, television syndication, and the music industry.

History

Soul Train was launched in 1970 after Don Cornelius, a journalist and disc jockey with experience at WCIU-TV and WVON, developed a local music showcase for Chicago audiences. Early broadcasts featured collaborations with local stations including WGN-TV and expanded via syndication through Tribune Broadcasting, reaching markets such as New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Atlanta. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the program intersected with the careers of artists who recorded for labels including Motown Records, Stax Records, Philadelphia International Records, and Atlantic Records. Soul Train documented transitions from the civil rights era into the Black Power movement, the emergence of funk with Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown, and later the rise of hip hop through acts associated with Def Jam Recordings, Bad Boy Records, and Ruthless Records. Production moved over time between Chicago, Los Angeles, and Culver City, reflecting shifts in the entertainment industry and television syndication models exemplified by companies like Warner Bros. Television and King World Productions.

Format and Production

The show's format combined live musical performances, lip-synced numbers, and the iconic "Soul Train Line," a participatory dance segment inspired by street dance and nightclub culture in cities such as New Orleans and Harlem. Episodes typically opened with an announcer credit and Don Cornelius's signature introduction before cutting to studio performances and on-set interviews. Choreographers and dancers affiliated with institutions like the Apollo Theater and clubs in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Los Angeles contributed routines that influenced choreography trends in music videos produced by directors tied to MTV and VH1. Production elements included live bands, backup vocalists, costume designers who worked with fashion houses and boutiques in New York's Harlem and Los Angeles's fashion districts, and technical crews familiar with multicamera television workflows used at studios like NBC and CBS affiliates. Syndication required master tapes and package deals negotiated with stations and distributors, leading to variations in episode length and broadcast times across markets. The show adapted to changes in broadcast technology from analog videotape to digital editing consoles as used by post-production facilities in Hollywood.

Hosts and Notable Performers

Don Cornelius served as creator, executive producer, and primary host during the program's formative decades, establishing a conversational interview style that paralleled contemporaries on programs such as The Tonight Show. Guest hosts and co-hosts included figures from broadcasting and entertainment who had ties to major networks and record companies. Notable performers spanned a wide range of artists who were pivotal in American music history: Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, The Jackson 5, Otis Redding, Al Green, Sly Stone, Chaka Khan, Etta James, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Tupac Shakur, The Isley Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sade, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Bruno Mars, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Barry White, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, Curtis Mayfield, Rakim, Salt-N-Pepa, Usher, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, N.W.A, The Supremes, Mavis Staples, Billy Preston, Pharrell Williams, D'Angelo, Seal, Anita Baker, Gladys Knight & the Pips, CeeLo Green, Ne-Yo, The O'Jays, Bell Biv DeVoe.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Soul Train influenced television representation by providing regular national visibility to African American performers, paralleling cultural institutions like the Apollo Theater, Motown Museum, and festivals such as the Newport Jazz Festival. The program's dance and fashion aesthetics shaped trends seen in publications like Vibe, Ebony, and Jet and impacted choreography in music videos for artists on labels including Island Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group. Soul Train alumni launched careers in choreography, television production, and fashion design, contributing to Broadway productions, film soundtracks, and collaborations with filmmakers linked to Spike Lee, John Singleton, and HBO. The show's archive has been used in documentaries and retrospectives aired on networks such as BET, PBS, and VH1, and it inspired successor programs and segments in morning shows and late-night variety formats. Soul Train's celebration of Black musical innovation resonated internationally, influencing scenes in the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Brazil where local broadcasters and promoters echoed its format.

Awards and Recognition

The program and its creator received multiple honors recognizing contributions to broadcasting and culture. Don Cornelius earned accolades from organizations like the NAACP, Black Music Association, and industry groups including the National Association of Television Program Executives. Soul Train received special honors at ceremonies such as the Grammy Awards and was the focus of tributes at institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian Institution. The Soul Train brand later spawned the Soul Train Music Awards, which recognized achievements by artists affiliated with labels including RCA Records, Motown Records, and Epic Records, and celebrated performers across categories such as R&B, rap, and gospel with presentations hosted at venues including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and theaters in Las Vegas.

Category:American television series Category:Music television series Category:African American culture