Soul Train

Soul Train was a weekly variety show that featured performances by Soul musicians and dancing for audience members. It aired from 1970 to 2006 and was founded by former disc jockey Don Cornelius. New episodes were put on hold after 2006 and the show began airing its classic episodes from the 1970s on the weekends.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/business/media/17soul.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=soul+train&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

In 2008, Cornelius sold the rights to Soul Train to MadVision Entertainment. Since then, the owners have been working to release footage of the original series and have announced plans to recreate a new version of the show.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/business/media/17soul.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=soul+train&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin In August of 2010, Time Life publishing will be releasing a commemorative 3-DVD boxed set The Best of Soul Train. This release will coincide with the show's fortieth anniversary.http://soultrain.com/upcoming-events/http://soultrain.com/upcoming-events/

Soul Train premiered in 1970. It was created, produced, written and hosted by Don Cornelius for almost 30 years. In 1973, the New York Times compared the show to the similarly-designed American Bandstand, saying that Soul Train was to American Bandstand as "Champagne is to seltzer water".http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/business/media/17soul.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=soul+train&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Many prominent R&B, Funk, Pop and Jazz artists appeared on the show over the years, including Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, Elton John, David Bowie, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/business/media/17soul.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=soul+train&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin But the show was best known for its distinctive "Soul Train Line", during which audience members would form a line and two members at a time would dance down the line while popular music played.

Cornelius decided to expand the brand by creating the Soul Train Awards in 1987. The awards show highlighted the musical accomplishments of African-American artists and performers annually.http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/soul-train-local/Content?oid=1106014