How Soul Train made TV history

Black music, dance, and fashion thrived on Soul Train. vox.com/culture CULTURE   Yesterday was Leap Day: the event in which, every four years, we get an extra day of Black History Month. Let's add today to the tally too! For Vox, Nylah Burton delved into the history of Soul Train, a Black variety show that has never quite been replicated but had a massive impact on the entertainment industry and television culture as a whole. It was the longest first-run syndicated television series ever, with musical guests, dancing, and fashion showcased weekly. Depicted in some very fun photos in the story, it's clear that the party was so good because it avoided the uniformity and predictability that algorithms have plagued our culture with today. —[Melinda Fakuade](, culture editor P.S.: Our friends from Vulture have a new game, [Cinematrix](! This addictive grid-game-style movie trivia romp is sure to become an essential part of your daily gaming regimen. [Check it out here!]( The revolutionary spirit of Soul Train [a photo of the 4 afroed men, a group known as the Chi-Lites, performing on stage on Soul Train.]( Soul Train via Getty Images For 35 years, Soul Train was the beating heart of Black pop culture in America, considered appointment television for the millions of people who tuned in to discover the latest trends in music, dance, and fashion. In its more than 900 episodes, it launched musicians like Teena Marie, Curtis Mayfield, and the Jackson Five, and others like Vivica A. Fox, Jody Watley, and Rosie Perez, to new heights of fame. Now, 54 years after the groundbreaking show’s premiere, its impact on culture and history hasn’t diminished. Soul Train was an ensemble show, featuring musicians, dancers, comedians, and special guests [who came together to put on a grand show](. It was glittery and glamorous, but also intimate and personal, with celebrities like Patti LaBelle, Elton John, and Little Richard mingling with the dancers in the audience. Simply put, you couldn’t miss it. Richard Gay, the producer of a soon-to-be-on-Broadway musical called Soul Train, tells Vox, “The day Soul Train was supposed to come on, we all knew we needed to have our chores done and everything together so we could watch. ... Then you got older and started tuning in so you could use the dances at the parties that weekend. I was too young to really engage with Soul Train during my childhood (and wasn’t even alive during its peak). Still, its legacy lives on for me. From reruns, I can recall with ease the intro, with the animated train, the screech of “The Soullll Trainnn!,” and a smooth voice calling it [“the hippest trip in America.”]( I have vivid memories of Don Cornelius, Soul Train’s founder and legendary “conductor” or host. And the iconic Soul Train line, where people make a corridor and one person has the spotlight, dancing wildly and passionately down the line as everyone claps and cheers, which showed up at so many of my family functions and parties at my alma mater, the historically Black Howard University. It’s undeniable that Soul Train has been a huge part of my life, and that of many others, even long after it stopped airing. [Read the full story »](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Why all the internet’s boyfriends are Irish Irish men are having a moment in Hollywood. [Read the full story »]( Why half the people you know are obsessed with this book series With A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas has established herself as the reigning queen of romantasy. [Read the full story »](   Support our work We aim to explain what we buy, why we buy it, and why it matters. Support our mission by making a gift today. [Give](   More good stuff to read today - [How weathering affects Black people’s health]( - [What kids lose without snow days]( - [Your guide to the 2024 Oscars]( - [Shane Gillis’s SNL hosting gig is an unearned rehabilitation]( - [Older Americans are working longer. Some want to; others have to.]( - [Mascuzynity: How a nicotine pouch explains the new ethos of young conservative men]( - [A guide to starting your mental health journey]( - [Can you beat Vulture’s new movie trivia game?](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=culture). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.