Yesterday was a truly sad day as legendary entertainer and entrepreneur Don Cornelius was found dead in his home from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Although Don is no longer with us, what he has done for ALL of us, Black and white, who love and cherish urban music, will never, EVER be undone.
It was very interesting to see the reactions between grown folk when they heard of Don’s passing, and young people because it’s so evident that a lot of the youth have NO CLUE how important of a man Don truly is, which is definitely not their fault at all. Truth be told, when Etta James passed away not too long ago, my mother was more affected by that than I was, as she clearly grew up to Etta while I just heard her songs ONLY when my mother played them when I was growing up. But the tragedy of the younger generations lack of understanding of Don Cornelius and Soul Train’s overall importance is troubling because WE, the grown folk, never took the time to explain how remarkable what he did was, and how much it effects the music they listen to TODAY.
As a man who aspires to be an entrepreneur and create something of great social significance I really look up to Don because of the chances he took and the sacrifices he made. We aren’t talking about a man born into a wealthy family who got a nice trust fund and invested it into his own company – we are talking about a boy from South side Chicago he went to war in Korea for a year and a half right after his high school graduation, just to return home to be a cop and sell insurance to support his wife and two kids. And it’s that young man, married with children with $400 dollars in his bank account, who decided to QUIT his day job and pursue his dream.
How many of us use our obligations as an EXCUSE to refrain from chasing our dreams? Well, here’s a man who used that excuse as a reason why he COULDN’T ignore following his passion. It is THIS young man who landed a job as an announcer in 1966 on radio, and ended up beginning Soul Train as a local show the same year.
Why he created Soul Train is the BEST part – because as a civil rights journalist in the 60′s he saw that there was no TV show for SOUL music, so he wanted soul train to help African-American artists get their music out to the mass populous of African-American music fans and even wider - and he did just that.
Soul Train helped bring notoriety and mass exposure to artists such as Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Usher, Total, The Temptations, Jill Scott, Soul II Soul, The Isley Brothers and The Jackson 5 just to name a few. But more importantly it proved to ALL of Hollywood and the entire country at large that urban music was NOT just a fad and Soul Train, in it’s 35 year run, became the longest, continuously running first-run syndicated program in television history.
R.I.P. to a GREAT man and LONG LIVE the vision for creative and inspiring urban music that he instilled in us all.
“…and as always in parting, we wish you LOVE, PEACE and SOUL..”
This Is Your Conscience
13 Comments, Comment or Ping
lincolnanthonyblades
Ladies & Gentlemen, What Are YOUR Thoughts On Soul Train? Any Memorable Performances Or Moments You Remember?
Also, Do You Think Creating A NEW Soul Train Show Could Help Refocus Our View Of "Good Urban Music" And Help Us Counteract A Lot Of The CRAP On BET?
Feb 2nd, 2012
geturfundageup
I actually hated this era! No disrespect. The people can't dance and they dress funny.
Feb 2nd, 2012
lovepeaceandsoul
wtf are you talking about?!
This is one of the best eras if not THE BEST era to be in if you love music.
These people dance with so much emotion. I absolutely love it!
Don't bring that talk around here again!
Feb 2nd, 2012
NurseJilly
Love peace and soul… That's all that needs to be said:)
Feb 2nd, 2012
Jason
And where’s Don Cornelius with his stiff neck – Mr. Strickland in House Party.
LMAO
CRAP, I think it’s subjective to the listener… I am ok with the soul train eras, however they differed greatly in regards to the changes in music. I for instance loved Soul Train during the 80’s and I stopped watching it as I grew older and my music taste stayed the same, while the new music did not. Just last week a popular radio station in Toronto had one of the Fu-Schnickens on and he was praised…. Those fools said absolutely NOTHING and I loved them, yet Soldier Boy, and all the rest I hate because they are “saying nothing”. My favourite male vocalist all time is K-Ci from Jodeci, however if I was to argue this to my momma or aunts they might end up killing for stating he is better then a Barry White, Teddy P, or (the fat) Luther V. I remember playing “Feenin” and getting told to turn it off… but I remember hearing Teddy say “Turn out the Lights” and there was no issue. It’s not that the music sucks today, it’s the content and language is for a the youth of today, not me. So yes, I say it sucks… but I remember getting told Jodeci and Mary J were noise.
Feb 2nd, 2012
Gwappy
Yeah, they definitely had different eras of music. I'm in love with the current generation of music so to each their own I guess.
Feb 2nd, 2012
sonicmel
I love the video! My mom still has a few episodes on VHS. I still watch them just for kicks.
Feb 2nd, 2012
BoomBam
Love 70s music anyway, so loved all the older videos.
You can't help but smile at how much fun they're having.
Feb 2nd, 2012
lincolnanthonyblades
Which Era Though? Soul Train Went From 71-2006
Feb 2nd, 2012
lincolnanthonyblades
Co-Sign!
Feb 2nd, 2012
Paul B.
I actually listen to more 70's soul music than today's music to be honest. I loved the instruments and that music had some really funky intro's. (Papa Was a Rolling Stone for instance). That intro was bad-*ss at it's finest. On top of that, it was classic. I can't really say that I can listen to Trey Songz or Chris Brown 20 years from now, hell I don't even listen to them now. But Stevie, Teddy P, Marvin Gaye? The Manhattans? Minnie? I can go on and on listening to those and others.
Feb 2nd, 2012
Vicky
Out of all the great moments from Soul Train, why is the episode of Fresh Prince playing in my head?
Feb 2nd, 2012
lincolnanthonyblades
Because That Episode Was HILARIOUS
Feb 2nd, 2012
Reply to “In Good Conscience: Why SOUL TRAIN Was The Biggest Thing To Happen To Black Music”