“Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius, who committed suicide earlier this week at 75, was a powerhouse who made R&B music into an international phenomenon.
The series, begun in 1971 as a dance show, hosted some of the most critically acclaimed performers in the history of soul music, including the Jacksons, Aretha Franklin, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Marvin Gaye and Al Green. The show was also famous for the audience’s fluid dance moves. Dancers who consistently appeared included Rosie Perez, Nick Cannon and NFL legend Walter Payton.
Kenneth Gamble, one of the most important producers and songwriters during “Soul Train”’s heyday, said after Cornelius’s death that he was “an American icon.” Many performers got their start on the program, which focused primarily on black artists, unlike its counterpart “American Bandstand.”
“It came directly from the African American community,” Gamble said in the “Los Angeles Times.” “ It was more than TV dance show; it was a source of pride and dignity for the African American community. There were hardly any venues at that time, especially on TV, that would give African American artists any exposure.”
