Set

SoulTrain

For me, this set essentially began back in the early 1990s. You know when Jeffrey Allen Townes and Willard Carroll Smith Jr. - alias "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince" - were making the rounds on screen, one also had the chance to catch a glimpse of style, culture, funk, and soul.

The cultural impact of Don Cornelius' vision went far beyond entertainment.
Cornelius, a former news reporter, invested just $400 of his own money to create a "Black American Bandstand". In doing so, he became one of the first Black men to own and host a nationally syndicated television show.

Soul Train arrived during the Civil Rights movement. Through afros, vibrant fashion, and the iconic "Soul Train Line," the show broadcasted the message that "Black is beautiful" into millions of living rooms every week.

Before Soul Train, Black artists struggled to get airtime on mainstream television shows. The show launched the careers of legends spanning R&B, Funk, Soul, Disco, and Hip-Hop, featuring acts from James Brown to early hip-hop pioneers.

The SoulTrain-Line! This legendary segment of the show changed how dance was consumed and performed on television, turning freestyle dance into an art form.

Cornelius' booming, baritone voice concluded every episode with his famous wish to the audience: "Wishing you love, peace, and soul.

Rest In Power Don Cornelius [1936 - 2012]