Play that Funky Music
The coolest of Soul Train’s live performances
In 1971, Soul Train made its debut on the national airwaves, and it immediately asserted itself as “the hippest trip in America.” It took the American Bandstand formula of lip-synced pop acts and teen idol dancers, and applied it to soul music, showcasing the slickest dancers showing off their sexiest moves down the Soul Train Line at the end of the show. Host Don Cornelius got his start as a journalist with a vested interest in the civil rights movement, and used his show as a celebration of black culture, which appealed to fans of music the world over.
While new episodes of Soul Train were produced up until 2006, the show will forever be remembered for its roots in 1970s funk, soul, and R&B, and that’s where we come in. Let’s take a look back at ten of the most funkadelic performances from the iconic show: KC and the Sunshine Band, The O’Jays, Labelle, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Chaka Kahn, The Emotions, Billy Paul, and of course, The Jackson 5.
Those clothes! That hair! That sultry soul music! Enjoy the soothing sounds of righteous rock and roll, and “as always, we wish you love, peace, and soul!”