VH1 ROCK DOCS: SOUL TRAIN: THE HIPPEST TRIP IN AMERICA (TV)
Summary
One in this series of VH1-produced documentaries. This production focuses on the history of “Soul Train,” the groundbreaking R&B-themed musical variety show. Created in 1970 by Don Cornelius, the show highlighted black musicians and artists and ran for an unprecedented 35 seasons.
The program begins with comments about the changing landscape of race in America over the decades, including the recent election of President Barack Obama. Cornelius’ early life in Chicago and his involvement with the civil rights movement are discussed, and he explains how he felt that the media did not portray minorities in a positive light, and he wanted to create a show that celebrated black culture. Inspired by “American Bandstand,” he created “Soul Train,” and ended up with full ownership of the show, which was a first for a black person at the time.
Cornelius recruited local teens to dance on the show, and their experiences are discussed. In 1971, the show moved to Hollywood and became a national hit, with Gladys Knight and the Pips performing on the first national episode. Dance coordinator Pam Brown talks about working with teenagers and recruiting them for the show, and Cornelius comments on the different dance styles of East and West Coast youths.
The creation of the infamous “Soul Train line” (in which the dancers formed two lines while couples took turns dancing their way down the space between them) is explored. Included is Cornelius’ one-time-only participation, accompanied by Mary Wilson of The Supremes. Other big stars’ appearances on the show are shown, including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Ike and Tina Turner. "Soul Train" dancer Rosie Perez recalls the competitive nature of the show. She tells about dancers' grueling shooting schedule, and how they received no pay and dissatisfying lunches.
The show achieved higher ratings than even those of “Bandstand,” and several imitation shows were launched, including Dick Clark’s “Soul Unlimited,” which he agreed to drop once Cornelius objected. He then took a risk in featuring live music, as opposed to playing pre-recorded tracks, which was successful, albeit expensive. He soon commissioned Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to write an original theme song for the show, and “The Sound of Philadelphia” became a smash hit. Cornelius expresses regret at having changed the title from the one which Gamble and Huff wanted for the song: “Soul Train.”
As the show’s popularity increased, black pride was on an upswing in America, strengthened by black soldiers fighting in Vietnam and daily battles against school desegregation. “Soul Train” began to feature a “scramble board” game, in which contestants had sixty seconds to unscramble letters and spell out the name of a famous black individual, such as Harriet Tubman. Cornelius admits that the game was rigged so that players would always “win,” thus furthering a positive image of African-Americans. The show was also sponsored by several companies featuring products aimed at blacks, including Afro Sheen conditioner.
Cornelius discusses how people were often surprised that he owned the show entirely and that there was no white owner “behind” him. The show began to include white performers who had a “black sound” in 1975 with Gino Vannelli’s appearance, followed by the likes of Elton John and David Bowie. Exposure on the show led to further careers for many of the dancers, including Fred “Rerun” Berry, who went on to star in the sitcom “What’s Happening!!” The popularity of dances which originated on "Soul Train" is addressed, as when Michael Jackson incorporated "The Robot" in his act with the Jackson 5. Then, Cornelius’ interaction with the performers is explored, including a memorable basketball game with Marvin Gaye.
The emergence of disco music had an effect on the show; Cornelius had doubts about the music’s quality, but strove to promote notable black performers of any genre. He eventually started his own label and created the group Shalamar, composed of “Soul Train” dancers, who pioneered the famous “moonwalk” dance step. In the 1980s, many black artists came out with songs about the culture’s “upward mobility,” and rap and hip-hop began to gain popularity. Cornelius disliked the genre at first and occasionally made blunt comments on the show, which unnerved his guests.
Further competitive shows emerged, including “Yo! MTV Raps” and various shows on the BET network, but “Soul Train” managed to stay relevant by including many different types of artists. Cornelius eventually signed off in 1993 and a series of other hosts took his place, including actor Shemar Moore. The show ran until 2006. It left the air as the longest-running syndicated program on television.
Details
- NETWORK: VH1
- DATE: February 6, 2010 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:04:06
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 100739
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: Blacks - Music; Music, popular (songs, etc.); African-American Collection - Music
- SERIES RUN: VH1 - TV series, 2006-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lauren Lazin … Executive Producer
- Brad Abramson … Executive Producer
- Shelly Tatro … Executive Producer
- Jeff Olde … Executive Producer
- Anthony Maddox … Executive Producer
- Peter Griffith … Executive Producer
- Kenard Gibbs … Executive Producer
- Jaimie Cohen … Coordinating Producer, Field Producer
- J. Kevin Swain … Producer, Director
- Amy Goldberg … Producer, Co-Director
- Katie Jones-Badami … Producer
- Dana Gills … Associate Producer
- Shana Kent … Associate Producer
- Matt Wilson … Line Producer
- Giselle Rivera … Field Producer
- Mimi Zora … Post-Production Producer
- Gary Encarnacion … Graphics Producer
- Shelli Sweeney … Associate Graphics Producer
- Tim Van Horn … Animation
- Sean Gottlieb … Writer
- Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson … Music by
- Terrence Howard … Narrator
- Fred Berry
- David Bowie
- Pam Brown
- Dick Clark
- Don Cornelius
- Aretha Franklin
- Marvin Gaye
- Kenny Gamble
- Leon Huff
- The Jackson 5
- Michael Jackson
- Elton John
- Gladys Knight & the Pips
- Shemar Moore
- Barack Obama
- Rosie Perez
- Shalamar
- The Supremes
- Harriet Tubman
- Ike Turner
- Tina Turner
- Gino Vannelli
- Mary Wilson
- Stevie Wonder