Posted by: BuellBoy
Few television series were as innovative and influential to pop culture as “Soul Train.” Set first in Chicago, “Soul Train” launched on WCIU-TV with local radio and television personality, Don Cornelius on August 17, 1970. After moving the dance show to Los Angeles, “Soul Train” skyrocketed nationally and firmly secured its place in television by becoming the longest running, first-run syndicated series in history. To commemorate the show’s 40th anniversary, VH1 Rock Docs and Soul Train present “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America,” a monumental 90-minute documentary celebrating the show’s impact on pop culture, music, dance and fashion. The film will also feature a rare interview with Don Cornelius in which he reveals exclusive details regarding the launch and early days of the legendary series.
Host, Don Cornelius
From 1970-2006,
“Soul Train” offered a window into African American music and culture, and its charismatic host, Don Cornelius, was the man responsible for a new era in African American expression. A trained journalist, Don created a media empire that provided an outlet for record labels and advertisers to reach a new generation of music fans. He was and still is one of the first African Americans to own his own show. As the epitome of cool, many of his expressions entered the popular American lexicon:
“A groove that will make you move real smooth,” and
“Wishing you Love, Peace, and Soul!”
Terrence Howard
is narrated by Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard and features an original score by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots. The documentary includes memorable performances and moments from the show, as well as behind-the-scene stories from the people who lived the
“Soul Train” movement, including the cast, crew, and dancers. In addition, popular musicians (Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Snoop Dogg, Aretha Franklin), Sly Stone’s first exclusive documentary interview in years, comics (Cedric “The Entertainer,” Nick Cannon), music industry executives (L.A. Reid, Clive Davis, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) and actors of yesterday and today will comment on growing up with the show and will share their stories of how
“Soul Train” affected their own lives.
“Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America” is the newest documentary in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. Coinciding with the start of Black History Month, the documentary airs Saturday, February 6 (9:30 p.m. ET) on VH1.
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Curtis Mayfield and Don Cornelius
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Gladys Knight and The Pips
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Jacksons
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The Scrambleboard
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Diana Ross
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Tower of Power and Don Cornelius
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Franklin Ajaye
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Johnnie Taylor
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Filed under African-Americans, Art, Culture, Dancing, Documentary, Entertainment, Fashion, Hispanic/Latino/Latina, History, Media and Entertainment, Music, Networks, News, Photography, Pop Culture, Technology, Television, TV Shows, Uncategorized, US, VH1, Video/YouTube, Women's Issues
Tagged as 40, academy, actors, African, ahmir, america, American, and, anniversary, award, cannon, cedric, clive, cornelius, Culture, dance, davis, docs, don, emmy, entertianer, executives, Fashion, gamble, hippest, host, howard, huff, In, industry, kenny, l.a., Leon, love, Music, Nick, nominee, Peace, premiers, questlove, reid, rock, roots, series, show, soul, Television, terrance, th, the, thompson, train, trip, TV, vh1, winning
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Hey BB, can’t wait to see this. I remember back in the day, my Saturdays were spent learning new dances from Soul Train, and then practicing them the rest of the day. LOL 😉
I always thought Don Cornelius was really kinda’ a nerd and not as over-the-top cool as he played on the show… who knew he was a Chicago cop in a previous life?
oh and you left out:
“… and you can bet your last money, it’s all gonna be a stone gas, honey!”
now that’s cool. 🙂
Good looking out, BB. I have to DVR this. I loved Soul Train. Yeah, AG — me too. I wonder if they’re going to showcase some of the dancers. I still remember the Asian girl with long hair.
The show is an icon: woven into the fabric of American culture.Saturday was my favorite day.Soul Train and American Bandstand back to back! Don Corneilus would just tower over his guests! I always joked he moved like a robot with a afro! Although there was once Don went down the Soul train line. It’s on youtube I think. And a cop?Who knew.
Hey BB, I think this is it. 🙂
I’d like to see a replay or buy this, why is VH1 making it so difficult? The next replay isn’t until March, and it doesn’t seem they’ll offer this on DVD.
they don’t have the VH1 show up yet, but they do have a Soul Train channel that has tons of old footage 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/user/soultrain?blend=1&ob=4
I wish you successful brothers would start appreciating and marrying your African American sister, you know the sister that helped you climp the successful later yeah that one. Why do wealthy African American men feel like African American sisters are not worthy of sharing their wealth. Something is totally wrong with this conspired brain washing system. Denzel and Samuel we love you and thank you for sticking with your sisters. You guys must really have a sincere relationship with the Lord.
May Don Cornelius rest in peace.