• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Flashback Fridays: 'Soul Train'

Maybe you've caught a glimpse of the show on Youtube or while watching "Crooklyn."  Or perhaps you remember sitting in front of your television set every Saturday, to see who was wearing what and how they grooved down the Soul Train line. Either way, we doubt if many people know the real story behind one of the longest-running, syndicated shows in television history. Thankfully, VH1 will bring us all up to speed tomorrow night when they air the hour-long documentary, "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America," featuring the show's infamous conductor, and creator, Don Cornelius. Read more: For more Flashback stories, click here.
By Regina R. Robertson · Updated October 29, 2020
Don_Cornelius.jpg
Maybe you’ve caught a glimpse of the show on Youtube or while watching “Crooklyn.”  Or perhaps you remember sitting in front of your television set, every Saturday, to see who was wearing what and how they grooved down the Soul Train line. Either way, we doubt that many people know the real story behind one of the longest-running, syndicated shows in television history. This year marks the 40th anniversary of “Soul Train,” which premiered on Chicago’s Channel 26 on August 17, 1970, led by its conductor and creator, Don Cornelius. The show was a hit from the start and by the following fall, “Soul Train” would make its national debut, from Hollywood.  A former journalist, Cornelius had the idea to create a Black version of “American Bandstand” and by a stroke of luck, he assumed ownership, from the very beginning, making him one of the first African-Americans to own a television show. “To get on the show was a big deal,” recalls Grammy-winner and former dancer, Jody Watley, who is, by far, one of “Soul Train’s” most successful graduates. “It was a task to become a regular dancer and watching this documentary brought back great memories and a sense of pride. It is a reminder of an era when we were Black and proud and the music was great. I feel very blessed to have been a part of it.” Speaking of the dancers, Fred “Rerun” Berry, Patricia Davis, Damito Jo Freeman, Rosie Perez and Jeffrey Daniel (Watley’s Shalamar co-hort and creator of the “blackslide” a/k/a the Moonwalk) are credited as the foundation of the show. Cheryl Song, the woman often identified as “the Asian girl,” is also featured. Complete with performance clips of Gladys Knight & the Pips, the O’Jays, Stevie Wonder and Sly & the Family Stone to James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield and Snoop Dogg, the documentary chronicles the show’s 35-season run from its early, soulful days through the disco and hip-hop eras. The music, dance and fashions of yesteryear were always on-point, but nothing beats watching Don Cornelius take his one, and only, trip down the Soul Train line. “Soul Train” was, indeed, the hippest trip.
“Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America” airs tomorrow on VH1 at 9:30pm ET/PT. Read more:
  • For more Flashback stories, click here.
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now