Soul Train
| Soul Train | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Created by | Don Cornelius |
| Presented by | Don Cornelius (1971–1993) Various guest hosts (1993–1997) Mystro Clark (1997–1999) Shemar Moore (2000–2003) Dorian Gregory (2003–2006) |
| Narrated by | Sid McCoy |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 1,117 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | Metromedia Square Hollywood, California (1971–1981) Charlie Chaplin Studios Hollywood, California (1981–1985) Hollywood Center Studios Hollywood, California (1985–1993) Paramount Studios Hollywood, California (1993–2006) |
| Running time | 45-48 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Don Cornelius Productions |
| Distributor | Tribune Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication |
| Original release | October 2, 1971 – March 25, 2006 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Soul Train is an American musical variety television program which aired in syndication from 1971 until 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, dance/pop and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco and gospel artists also appeared. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer.
Production was suspended following the 2005–2006 season, with a rerun package (known as The Best of Soul Train) airing for two years subsequently. As a nod to Soul Train's longevity, the show's opening sequence during later seasons contained a claim that it was the "longest-running first-run, nationally syndicated program in American television history," with over 1,100 episodes produced from the show's debut through the 2005–2006 season. Despite the production hiatus, Soul Train held that superlative until 2016, when Entertainment Tonight surpassed it completing its 35th season. Among non-news programs, Wheel of Fortune will surpass it in 2025 (that show has already been renewed through that year).
The origins of Soul Train can be traced to 1965 when WCIU-TV, an upstart UHF station in Chicago, began airing two youth-oriented dance programs: Kiddie-a-Go-Go and Red Hot and Blues. These programs—specifically the latter, which featured a predominantly African-American group of in-studio dancers—would set the stage for what was to come to the station several years later. Don Cornelius, a news reader and backup disc jockey at Chicago radio station WVON, was hired by WCIU in 1967 as a news and sports reporter. Cornelius also was promoting and emceeing a touring series of concerts featuring local talent (sometimes called "record hops") at Chicago-area high schools, calling his traveling caravan of shows "The Soul Train". WCIU-TV took notice of Cornelius's outside work and in 1970, allowed him the opportunity to bring his road show to television.
After securing a sponsorship deal with the Chicago-based retailer Sears, Roebuck & Co., Soul Train premiered on WCIU-TV on August 17, 1970, as a live show airing weekday afternoons. The first episode of the program featured Jerry Butler, the Chi-Lites, and the Emotions as guests. Cornelius was assisted by Clinton Ghent, a local professional dancer who appeared on early episodes before moving behind the scenes as a producer and secondary host.
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