If you’re of age, you may remember Soul Train, an American variety television show from back in the day, that featured Black musical acts and dancers. Broadcast nationally from 1971 to 2006, it became one of the longest-running syndicated programs in the history of U.S. television.
Soul Train was the brainchild of Don Cornelius, a former Chicago area disc jockey whose suave, baritone voice came alive as show host. Each episode opened with the Soul Train song symbolizing the movement of soul music from city to city as a train would. Etched in the minds of many who watched the show was the iconic squealing "Soooulll Traaain" opening, which immediately captured your attention.
As a kid growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I have fond memories of Cornelius opening the show with flair followed by a series of musical performances by a popular group of the time. The television toggled back and forth between the musical act and the rhythmic dancers on the dance floor. At times, Cornelius would interject with an interview of the musical entertainers or one of the Soul Train dancers appearing on the show. He would close each show by wishing his viewers "love, peace, and soul!"
In many ways the show symbolized the prideful “look good, feel good” vibe that Cornelius emanated. He was always exquisitely well-dressed, well-spoken, and classy in how he presented himself. As Black Americans, we experienced a strong, confident Black man with style, character, and savvy. It impacted us and gave us permission to freely express ourselves. It made us feel good about ourselves in a world that often had issues with us because of our race.
Each Sunday for 35 years, Soul Train delivered a healthy dose of Black culture and identity, all tied to the music and dance that symbolized the times. Cornelius referred to the show as “the hippest trip in America,” where the latest dance moves, hair, and clothing styles were on full display. In many ways it became the quintessential promotional venue for both established and emerging music entertainers of the day, offering television audiences nationwide a glimpse of the evolving Black musical landscape.
Over the years, many noted entertainers, most Black, some white graced the show. The seemingly infinite list of those who made appearances included Aretha Franklin, Barry White, James Brown, Michael Jackson, the Jackson 5, KC, the Sunshine Band, and Anita Baker, among scores of others.
Cornelius served as Soul Train’s host until 1993 when he took on the role of "host emeritus," introducing new guest emcees for the show. He moved from independent producer to partner of Tribune Entertainment Company, the show’s producer. Sadly, in 2012 amid health and life concerns, Cornelius committed suicide in Los Angeles.
In an interview with “Black Books, Black Minds,” I asked Ericka Blount Danois author of the book Love, Peace, and Soul: Behind the Scenes of America’s Favorite Dance Show for her thoughts about the broader significance of Soul Train in the annals of Black History? She had this to offer:
“I think that Soul Train provided a platform for authentic and unfiltered black life. A platform that did not exist previously. Kids that had been creating their own dances in the street suddenly were given recognition for their talents. Musicians that were not able to make it on shows like Bandstand were now given a national platform. White folks who hadn't seen the full breadth of black talent were able to witness it through their television screens. Poets, authors, and comedians like Richard Pryor who hosted an entire show were given a national audience.”
Ericka notes that Soul Train was the longest-running first-run nationally syndicated show in television history.
“Don Cornelius, had ownership of the show - so it was black-owned with black sponsorship through Johnson and Johnson products. In my book, I recount a scene where Martin L. King Jr. remarks that Soul Train with solely black sponsorship was the definition of black power.”
In terms of the major catalyst behind her decision to write “Love, Peace, and Soul, she had this to say:
“I'd started just wanting to know what happened to my favorite dancers from Soul Train. When I found out the accomplishments they'd had - Damita Jo dancing for the Queen of England, Cheryl Song dancing with Michael Jackson and Rick James - to name a few I ended up going down a rabbit hole of rich history about Don Cornelius, about the show, about the dancers, the people that worked on the show and the guests. So many surprises - first that comes to mind was that the legendary Chicago Bears football player Walter Payton was once a dancer on Soul Train.”
In a concluding thought, Ericka shared how the show has left a lasting legacy of Black music and artistic creation:
“I think that every dance show that exists now does so on the shoulders of Soul Train. But also every black-owned network that came after Soul Train - BET, TV One, etc. There is a reason that there hasn't been a show since that has the kind of magnetism that Soul Train had - with superstar guests, electric dancers, a charismatic host, and black talent behind the scenes. It can't be duplicated. It was a forum for black talent that will live on in history forever.”
I am not breaking any news here, but I loved Soul Train. It was on our TV every Saturday; never missed.