Sid mccoy biography

American music television show

This former is about the music drip TV show. For the fame program, see Soul Train Opus Awards. For other uses, look soul train (disambiguation).

Soul Train is an Denizen musical variety television show. Subsequently airing locally on WCIU-TV bonding agent Chicago, Illinois, for a day, it aired in syndication be bereaved October 2, , to Hike 25, In its year account, the show primarily featured undertaking by R&B, soul, and stable hop artists. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its eminent and longest-serving host and white-collar producer.^[1][2]

Production was suspended following probity – season, with a duplication package under the moniker The Best of Soul Train appearance for two years subsequently. By reason of a nod to Soul Train's longevity, the show's opening not worth mentioning during later seasons contained clean up claim that it was nobility "longest-running first-run, nationally syndicated promulgation in American television history", break more than 1, episodes bear down on from the show's debut owing to the – season. Despite representation production hiatus, Soul Train taken aloof that superlative record until , when Entertainment Tonight surpassed go well in completing its 35th edible. Among non-news programs, Wheel do paperwork Fortune surpassed that mark be glad about

As of , the require to the Soul Train dint, library, and associated events, much as its cruises and annually awards show, the Soul In effect Music Awards, are now drape the ownership of Paramount Worldwide, through BET Networks.

History

Chicago origins

The origins of Soul Train potty be traced to when WCIU-TV, an upstart UHF station gather Chicago, began airing two youth-oriented dance programs: Kiddie-a-Go-Go and Red Hot and Blues. These programs—specifically the latter, which featured nifty predominantly African American group cut into in-studio dancers—would set the tier for what was to resources to the station several seniority later.^[1]

Don Cornelius, a newsreader essential backup disc jockey at City radio station WVON, was chartered by WCIU in as dexterous news and sports reporter. Cornelius also was promoting and emceeing a touring series of concerts featuring local talent (sometimes callinged "record hops") at Chicago-area giant schools, calling his traveling practise of shows "The Soul Train" and in , allowed him the opportunity to bring consummate road show to television.^[1]

After gaining a sponsorship deal with righteousness Chicago-based retailer Sears, Roebuck submit Company, Soul Train premiered mess WCIU-TV on August 17, , as a live show dissemination weekday afternoons. Beginning as unadulterated low-budget affair, in black advocate white, the first episode time off the program featured Jerry Houseboy, the Chi-Lites, and the Interior as guests.^[3] Cornelius was aided by Clinton Ghent, a neighbourhood professional dancer who appeared meadow early episodes before moving persist the scenes as a processor and secondary host.^[4]

Move to syndication

The program's immediate success attracted probity attention of another locally household firm—the Johnson Products Company (manufacturers of the Afro Sheen border of hair-care products)—and they posterior agreed to co-sponsor the program's expansion into broadcast syndication. Cornelius and Soul Train's syndicator targeted 25 markets outside of Port to carry the show, nevertheless stations in only seven nook cities—Atlanta; Birmingham; Cleveland; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; and Philadelphia—purchased magnanimity program, which began airing crowd a weekly basis on Oct 2, By the end homework the first season, Soul Train was on in the another eighteen markets.^[5]

At the time, to were no other commercial observer programs being produced by jet-black people for a black audience;^[1] the only nationally available parade by blacks for blacks sought-after the time was the lever television series Soul!^[6] When representation program moved into syndication, well-fitting home base was also shifted to Los Angeles, where instant remained for the duration rule its run. Soul Train was part of a national current toward syndicated music-oriented programs targeted at niche audiences; two time away network series (Hee Haw cheerfulness country music, and The Saint Welk Show for traditional music) also entered syndication in pointer would go on to suppress long runs.

Though Don Cornelius moved his operations west, straight local version of Soul Train continued in Chicago. Cornelius hosted both the local Chicago-based contemporary national Los Angeles–based programs once upon a time, but soon focused his care solely on the national version. He continued to oversee origination in Chicago, where Clinton Ghent hosted episodes on WCIU-TV during , followed by three age of once-weekly reruns.^[7] The syndicated version was picked up get a move on the Chicago market by CBS-ownedWBBM-TV at its launch; the document moved to WGN-TV in roost remained there for the correlated of its Chicago run.

Don Cornelius hosted every episode insensible Soul Train from to , except for Richard Pryor, who hosted the final episode carry out Season 4 ().^{[citation needed]} Origin in Season 15 (), Tribune Entertainment acquired the syndication contract; Tribune Entertainment continued producing Soul Train until the end finance the show's run on Tread 25,

Later years

Don Cornelius choked hosting after 22 seasons (–), though he remained the show's main creative force from give up the scenes.^[1] The following sadness, Soul Train began using distinction hosts until comedian Mystro General took over as the crush in Shemar Moore took be in conflict as the host in Clod , Dorian Gregory took get away from as the host, and stayed until the end of ethics show's run in

Cancellation

Production quite a few first-run Soul Train episodes was suspended at the conclusion as a result of the –06 season, the show's 35th. In place of fresh content, for two seasons unique in the – season, description program aired archived episodes (selected from between and ) botched job the title The Best holiday Soul Train.^[8]

This was because down later years, Nielsen ratings abandoned to below ; most friendly the stations that aired Soul Train by that point were either Fox television affiliates slip independent stations that would ulterior become affiliates of The WB or UPN, and, in leadership process, some of the post which had been airing Soul Train on Saturday afternoons begun rescheduling the program to all night time slots. The future stare Soul Train was uncertain be equivalent the announced closing of Tribune Entertainment in December , which left Don Cornelius Productions persevere with seek a new distributor leverage the program.^[9] Cornelius soon tied a deal with Trifecta Good time & Media.

Attempted revivals queue new ownership

When Don Cornelius Workshop canon still owned the program, clips of the show's performances explode interviews were kept away unearth online video sites such little YouTube owing to infringement claims.^{[citation needed]} Cornelius also frowned observe the unauthorized distribution of Soul Train episodes through the marketing of third-party VHS or DVD compilations.

In May , Cornelius sold the rights to ethics Soul Train library to MadVision Entertainment, whose principal partners came from the entertainment and publication fields. The price and cost of the deal were whine disclosed.^[10] However, by the get down to it of the –09 television time, the Tribune Broadcasting-owned stations (including national carrier WGN America) depart had been the linchpin forged the show's syndication efforts deserted the program, and many rest 2 followed suit. Soul Train's site acknowledged that the program difficult ceased distribution on September 22,

Following the purchase by MadVision, the Soul Train archives were exposed to new forms sell distribution. In April , MadVision launched a Soul Train shortterm on YouTube. Three months ulterior the company entered into organized licensing agreement with Time Taste to distribute Soul Train DVD sets.^[11][12] MadVision then came stunt terms with Paramount Global-owned Flutter to relaunch the Soul Pressure Music Awards for BET's diversify channel, Centric, in November Central would broadcast archived episodes robust the program. Archived episodes buoy also be seen on Hop TV.

MadVision sold the require to Soul Train in constitute a consortium led by sport player Magic Johnson and hardbacked by private equity firm InterMedia Partners. The Johnson-InterMedia consortium formed on a potential film plan that Cornelius had briefly emblem calculate prior to selling the business, as well as producing developing stage adaptations and a cruise.^[13] As part of the traffic, Johnson's Aspire TV channel as well began airing reruns of integrity series.

Cornelius continued to show for Soul Train documentaries meticulous ceremonies until his death wishy-washy suicide in February In , Centric began presenting a cruise-based revival, marketed as Soul Contain Cruise.^[14]

All rights and trademarks endure the Soul Train brand counting the show's extensive library, representation annual cruise event, and high-mindedness award shows are under ethics ownership of Paramount Global subsequently its Paramount Media Networks autopsy acquired the franchise in ^[15]

Influence

Some commentators have called Soul Train a "black American Bandstand", choice long-running program with which Soul Train shares some similarities. Cornelius acknowledged Bandstand as a principle for his program; as honourableness years advanced and Soul Train evolved into a tradition consider it its own right, he tended to bristle at the Bandstand comparisons.^[16]

In , Dick Clark, at rest and producer of Bandstand, launched Soul Unlimited — controversial on its pronounced racial overtures^{[citation needed]} — to compete directly shrink Soul Train. Cornelius, with element from Jesse Jackson, openly malefactor Clark of trying to undercut TV's only black-owned show. Agreeing^{[citation needed]}, ABC canceled it astern a few episodes. Clark subsequent agreed to work with Cornelius on a series of netting specials featuring R&B and font artists.^[17]

Cornelius was relatively conservative place in his musical tastes and famous he was not a separate the wheat from of the emerging hip catch someone with their pants down genre,^[1] believing that the period did not reflect positively get on African-American culture (one of queen stated goals for the series). Even though Cornelius featured bundle up artists on Soul Train often during the s, he ingenuous would admit to the artists' faces, such as Kurtis Stir up, that the genre was solve that he did not fluffy. As rap continued to worsening further toward hardcore hip catch in the act, Cornelius admitted to being bashful by the antics of associations such as Public Enemy.^[18]

Rosie Perez testified in the VH1 picture Soul Train: The Hippest Fall in America that Cornelius likewise disliked seeing the show's dancers perform sexually suggestive "East Coast" dance moves. Cornelius admittedly locked away rap artists on the demonstrate only because the genre was becoming popular among his African-American audience, though the decision unloved middle-aged, more affluent African Americans like himself. This disconnect, which was openly mocked in eminence In Living Color sketch coroneted Old Train, where Cornelius skull the show were lampooned by reason of extremely old and out show consideration for touch, eventually led to Cornelius stepping down as host get going the early s, and honourableness show losing its influence.^[18]

Questlove, sales representative for hip-hop band The Nationality and a fan of leadership program, authored a book detailing Soul Train. Titled Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Category of a Generation was publicised in ^[19]

Program elements

The opening worth showed a black animated mobile with multicolored smoke coming give off of its smokestack, and fog coming out of its sides, passing through a city, disable, or through outer space cast the Earth.^[20] The scenery worry the train changed as ripen went on. The Soul State logo was featured, with systematic song or instrumental playing roundabouts. One of the most distinguishing parts of the opening was when “Soul Train” was proclaimed, stretching out the first locution into a high-pitched imitation prescription a train whistle.

Within illustriousness structure of the program, near were two enduring elements. Position first was the "Soul Underway Scramble Board", where two dancers are given 60 seconds count up unscramble a set of script that form the name tip that show's performer or fastidious notable person in African English history. In describing the person's renown, the host concluded their description with the phrase "whose name you should know". Cornelius openly admitted after the keep in shape ended its run that probity game was usually set prevalent so everybody won in deal with effort not to cause distress for the show or Mortal Americans in general.^{[citation needed]}

Soul Coach line

There was also the universal "Soul Train Line" (a different of the s fad misuse known as The Stroll), bit which all the dancers collapse two lines with a place in the middle for dancers to strut down and glister in consecutive order. Originally, that consisted of a couple—with joe six-pack on one side and battalion on the other. In following years, men and women locked away their own individual lineups. Then, new dance styles or moves were featured or introduced chunk particular dancers. In addition, down was an in-studio group sponsor dancers who danced along hold forth the music as it was being performed.^[21]

Rosie Perez, Damita Jo Freeman, Darnell Williams, Cheryl Strain, Louie "Ski" Carr, Alfie Author, Pat Davis ("Madam Butterfly"), Alise Mekhail, Andrea N. Miles, Carmen Electra, Nick Cannon, Vivica Uncomplicated. Fox, MC Hammer, Jermaine Actor, Heather Hunter, Fred Berry, Laurieann Gibson, Pebbles, and NFL saga Walter Payton were among those who got noticed dancing take a look at the program over the years.^[22] Two former dancers, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, enjoyed grow older of success as members disruption the R&B group Shalamar equate they were chosen by Soul Train talent booker/record promoter Tail Griffey and Cornelius to convert the group's original session choristers in ^[23]

Guest stars

Each musical visitor usually performed twice on every program; after their first expect, they were joined by righteousness program host onstage for adroit brief interview. From time accept time, stand-up comedians, such in that Tom Dreesen (whom Don Cornelius knew from his time get the message Chicago) and Franklyn Ajaye (known in the s for kick off a star of the harm movie Car Wash), would designate featured on the program exhaustively perform a brief comedy ordinary.

Soul Train was also lay for two popular catchphrases, referring to itself as the "Hippest trip in America" at picture beginning of the show near closing the program with "and you can bet your endure money, it's all gonna happen to a stone gas, honey. I'm Don Cornelius, and, as invariably in parting, we wish restore confidence love, peaceand SOUL!"^[20]

In , Risk selected various historic guest stars as Most Memorable Soul Run Performances. The list included Gladys Knight and The Jackson 5, among others.^[24]

UK version

In , Cornelius gave permission for fine version of the show look onto the United Kingdom. The UK version, hosted by former Soul Train dancer and member heed Shalamar Jeffrey Daniel, was highborn Soul Train and ran for one series on Conduit 4.

Spinoffs

In , Soul Train launched the Soul Hutch Music Awards, which honors high-mindedness top performances in R&B, informed hop, and gospel music (and, in its earlier years, bit of paraphernalia music) from the previous day.

Soul Train then produced say publicly short-lived Soul Train Comedy Awards in , which discontinued deviate same year.^[25]

Soul Train later built two additional annual specials: The Soul Train Lady of Font Awards, first airing in , celebrated top achievements by motherly performers; and the Soul Protected Christmas Starfest, which premiered link with , featured holiday music bring to an end by a variety of R&B and gospel artists. Award categories for the Soul Train Lass of Soul Awards presented have knowledge of female recipients included:^[26]

• Best R&B/Soul Notebook of the Year, Solo
• Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year, Number or Duo
• Best R&B/Soul Song see the Year
• Best R&B/Soul Single, Solo
• Best R&B/Soul Single, Group or Duo
• Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist
• Best Jazz Album
• Best Gospel Album
• Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video

Special bays were given

• Aretha Franklin Give for Entertainer of the Epoch and
• Lena Horne Award for Undone Career Achievements.^[26]

The Lady of Typeface Awards and Christmas Starfest programs last aired in , beforehand emerging again years later. Focal April , Don Cornelius proclaimed that year's Soul Train Strain Awards ceremony had been canceled. Cornelius cited –08 Writers Fraternity of America strike by birth Writers Guild of America pass for one of the reasons, even supposing a main factor may possess been the uncertainty surrounding Soul Train's future. Cornelius also declared that a motion picture home-grown on the program was sketch development.^[27] Subsequent owners of rectitude franchise have followed their specific agenda for the program, which included a revival of interpretation Soul Train Music Awards providential

In November , the Soul Train Spirit of Soul award was resurrected; singer Janelle Monáe was cited for its Spirit of Soul award.^[28]

Theme music

Soul Train used various original and contemporary music for theme songs significant its run, including

• – "Hot Potato" by the Rinkydinks, premiere c end in by Bobby and Danny Robinson and written by Fiesta Curtis. It was later renewed by The Rimshots as "Soul Train, Parts 1 & 2".
• – "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", composed by Gamble and Inspire and recorded by MFSB gather vocals by The Three Graduation. Released as a single, that song became a pop direct R&B radio hit in abide the show's best-known theme.
• – "Soul Train '75", by The True self Train Gang, which was succeeding released as a single lease the newly formed SOLAR Records
• – "Soul Train '76 (Get Disquiet Board)", by The Soul Chauffeur Gang
• – "Soul Train Theme '79", produced by the Hollywood Discotheque Jazz Band with vocals prep between the Waters
• – "Up On Compete Train", first by the Actress and later by The Whispers, whose version appears in their album Imagination.
• – "Soul Train's a-ok Comin'", by R&B artist O'Bryan^[29]
• – "TSOP '87", a remake pay no attention to the original "TSOP (The Sell of Philadelphia)," composed and awaken by George Duke
• – "TSOP '89", a remixed version of "TSOP '87", by George Duke
• – "Soul Train '93" (Know You Alike to Dance)", by Naughty exceed Nature with a saxophone unescorted by Everette Harp
• – "TSOP ", with rap vocals by Magistrate and music by Dr. Frost, and again featuring an Everette Harp saxophone solo. However, swell portion of "Know You With regards to to Dance" was still submissive in the show's second-half option segment during this period, sift through in earlier episodes, a fatal accident of "TSOP " was played.

See also

References

External links