Soul Train

[marmite7]

Scuse my ignorance guys, but being from The UK, this prog wasn't aired over here and after finding this clip just now, I was wondering if the audience was always black or at some point did it become mixed?

I've only ever seen short clips and hadn't really paid attention before, but now pondering......


YouTube - soul train dancers 1976


and...........when did it first air and end?

Cheers

Mark

[thommy2458]

Hi Mark-These are a few things I remember.I started watching Soul Train in 1972(might have aired sooner?)As far
as the dancers go,there was an Asian girl with long hair that
started dancing on the show in the late 70's-early 80's.David
Bowie was the first caucasion to perform(with "Fame")but
then again War performed several times with Lee Oskar-these are all I know or recall.Anyone else?


Thom

[tmob]

It actually started in 1970, as a late-afternoon, daily show in black-and-white on one of the UHF stations here in Chicago. The ultimate in cheap sets (basically a curtain or two), "B" list guest stars and of course, the "Soul Train Scramble Board"...but the main attraction was the kids in the audience. Man, could they dance! It went national in 1971, and soon after that happened, everyone who was anyone in soul/R&B/disco guested on the show...Aretha, Stevie, the Supremes, the Jacksons, James Brown, you name it.

I remember seeing Elton John on "Soul Train," around the time of "Philadelphia Freedom." EJ's website claims he was the first white performer to appear on the show, in 1975.

And, of course, the Afro Sheen commercials..."Wan Tu Wah Zuree"!

[thommy2458]

Originally Posted by tmob

I remember seeing Elton John on "Soul Train," around the time of "Philadelphia Freedom." EJ's website claims he was the first white performer to appear on the show, in 1975.

You know,"Fame" was released in "75 also! I wonder now
if it was Elton first?

[Disco Funk]

When the show went national, I think it was based out of LA. That might explain why most of the dancers were doing a style known as 'locking', which was from Watts or one of those LA areas.

Disco Funk

[Discomanic]

Hi:
Looks like Elton John won this one. His appearance was 5/24/1975. David Bowie appeared 1/3/1976. The show was basically all African-American until the early 1980s when dancers from American Bandstand started showing up. And Soul Train dancers started appearing on American Bandstand. By the way, WGNSAT is showing The Best Of Soul Train on Saturdays at 1:00PM Central Time (provided there is not a baseball game) then it's at 3:30AM early Monday morning.

[Simon White]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

When the show went national, I think it was based out of LA. That might explain why most of the dancers were doing a style known as 'locking', which was from Watts or one of those LA areas.

Disco Funk

If it's what I think it is, I love that style of dancing ! I remember a bit of footage with Al Green's 'Lets Stay Together'. I'd never seen that dance before and it looked so cool and effortless.


Don Cornelius's label 'Soul Train' (Whispers, Shalamar ect ) became 'Solar'...S (ound) O (f) L (os) A (ngeles) (Whispers, Shalamar ect !) so thats bears it out , Disco Funk.

[marmite7]

Cheers for the info peeps

Lovin The O'Jays track, with its Northern Soul feel.