Mazatlan Jazz Festival Approved: 2023 Soul Train Super Cruise

Soul Train - A Brief Q & A 

Soul Train was a hugely popular American musical variety show that aired in syndication for over thirty years. The show was created by Don Cornelius who also acted as its visionary, host and executive producer.

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What was Soul Train?

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Soul Train, an American music TV show, was the first of its kind to prominently feature live African American musical performances, acts and dance improvisations. It was a national television show that was on the air for over thirty years and it was a staple on nationally syndicated television in the 70's and 80's.

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What was Soul Train’s and its impact on popular culture?

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In the early 70s, Soul Train became one of the longest tenured shows in American TV history. The show was initially created as a local showcase for the musical talents and dancers of Chicago.

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Soul Train's Chicago Home

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Starting out at the local Chicago TV station WCIU-TV, Soul Train began in 1970, at a time period when there were few if any outlets for popular African American culture in the US.

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What Happened to Soul Train?

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Soul Train's run ended in 2006. The rights were later sold to MadVision Entertainment two years later.

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Impact on Black America

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The show quickly became a vital tool for black artists in the 1970s and 80s to showcase and expose their incredible talents to a national and global audience. Groups such as Run-DMC used the platform to teach mass audiences how to dance, dress and listen to their new style of hip hop music.

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Where To Watch Soul Train

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You can watch live streams of all past Soul Train content on the streaming service Philo and the BET network.

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Which television shows are inspired by Soul Train?

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Historical references of Soul Train are returning to television with American Soul, inspired by the life and times of its creator and host, Don Cornelius.

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Has any Soul Train dancer become successful?

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Soul Train’s most famous dancer is Carmen Electra, who has since made many appearances on TV and the big screen as a famous model and pop star before becoming an actress.