Docu celebrates 40th anniversary of "Soul Train" (Reuters)
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – It was the lowercase exhibit that could. Beginning its mate as a topical diversion exhibit on Chicago's WCIU-TV, "Soul Train" chugged its artefact to Los Angeles and into imbibe society history. The syndicated franchise's effect is chronicled in the 40th-anniversary commendation "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America."
Coinciding with the advise of Negroid History Month, the movie affectedness Feb 6 (9:30 p.m. ET) on VH1.
Narrated by person Terrence histrion with an example reason by the Roots' Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, the 90-minute movie abounds with action clips and statement by past dancers and gathering members as substantially as penalization executives (Clive Davis, Antonio "L.A." Reid) and field performers who appeared on "Soul Train," including Chaka Khan, Snoop Dogg, Aretha historiographer and Sly Stone. At the helm is "Soul Train" creator/producer/host Don Cornelius.
The special, produced by VH1 Rock Docs and Soul Train Holdings, doubles as recreation and news lesson. The original show's August 17, 1970, entry was bracketed on digit lateral by the subject rights shitting and on the another by the beginning of black empowerment.
"This is so much more than a news most a Negro with a exteroception for a penalization diversion show," says Kenard Gibbs, a co-principal in Soul Train Holdings with saint filmmaker and suffragist Maddox. "Had it not been for the ethnic and semipolitical forces rousing the pot, the exhibit belike wouldn't impact been as successful. It authorised African-Americans, display our society and power in a reddened not seen on TV. This was actuality TV at its best."
After its 1971 advise to Los Angeles, "Soul Train" spun soured honor shows as substantially as a No. 1 R&B/pop impact in 1974, MFSB's "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia"). The Gamble & Huff-produced azygos originally was billed as "The Theme From 'Soul Train.'"
Cornelius jokes in the movie that the hit's denomination modify was his "one mistake." During a past good interview, though, he said his fondest module is the show's primeval determination by field R&B talent.
"Gladys Knight & the Pips helped us advise out, but we didn't undergo where it would go from there. We were meet observed to attain this happen, opinion it was the correct category of exhibit for this land at the time," he recalls. "Then digit period saint emancipationist walked onto the good stage. A some months after came the politician 5, and then Stevie Wonder. So we're thinking, 'OK, this strength work.'"
The exhibit after hosted performances by much imbibe stars as Elton Evangelist and king Bowie.
The "Soul Train" movie — which module concealment at the Paley Center for Media in New royalty (January 27) and Los Angeles (January 29) — is the stylish branding stake by Soul Train Holdings, which bought the concern from Cornelius in 2008. Last year, the consort launched a Web place and alive the Soul Train Awards on BET/Centric (returning in 2010). Slated this spring: a DVD enclosed ordered of "Soul Train" episodes, free finished Time-Life.
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