The Premiere Screening of VH1 Rock Docs - Soul Train: The Hippest Trip
in America was held at the Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles, CA
Friday, January 29, 2010. Don Cornelius was in attendance as well as
Jody Watley, Quest Love, The Soul Train Dancers and last but not least,
living legend Smokey Robinson.
Launched by Don Cornelius in
the Chicago area in 1970, "Soul Train" very quickly went national
within a year. The syndicated version moved to Hollywood and began to
attract bigger name acts, as well as influencing pop culture with its
hairstyles, outfits and dance line.
The show was known for its
animated opening titles and sequences between musical performances
featuring the popular cartoon train created by various cartoon studios.
As a nod to Soul Train's longevity, the show's opening sequence (during
later seasons) also contained a claim that it was the "longest-running,
first-run, nationally-syndicated program in television history," with
over 1,100 episodes produced from the show's debut through the 2005-06
season.
According to the Paley Center for Media, Soul Train
was one of the most influential and innovative music series of all
time, providing a unique window into the latest trends in music, dance,
and fashion. Don Cornelius, became a television icon, bringing
contemporary African-American culture into the national living room.
This documentary, executive produced by Academy Award–nominated
director Lauren Lazin, spotlights performances and great moments from
the show, as well as memories from cast and crew. Among the musicians
featured include Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Sly Stone, Snoop
Dogg, David Bowie, and Chaka Khan, all with “a groove that will make
you move real smooth.”
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