Person of the Week
I see this week that another icon of our youth has died. Don Cornelius, the founder, writer, producer and host of the TV show Soul Train was found shot, an apparent suicide. Inside and outside the music business, people are mourning a true industry pioneer. There are a lot of performers in this world who owe their career to him.
In the 1960's, while working as a DJ in Chicago, Cornelius saw a lack of exposure for African American Soul artists. He decided to do a TV show, that would feature Black musicians and dancers. That show lasted for a while. 35 years to be exact, and became the longest running syndicated show in the history of TV.
Artist's flocked to perform on the show. Aretha Franklin, James Brown, even Michael Jackson all sang on the program. Dancer's such as Rosie Perez, MC Hammer, Nick Cannon, and Fred (Rerun) Berry, got their start on the program. So did another fellow that had some pretty good moves himself, NFL running back Walter Payton.
As music tastes shifted more to rap, the influence of Soul Train waned. By 2006, the show's run ended, but his lasting effect on how we listed to music will never be forgotten. And he is our Person of the Week.
Back Sunday with another Top Ten List
We will talk soon
Jeff
credit Wikopedia with their help on this story
In the 1960's, while working as a DJ in Chicago, Cornelius saw a lack of exposure for African American Soul artists. He decided to do a TV show, that would feature Black musicians and dancers. That show lasted for a while. 35 years to be exact, and became the longest running syndicated show in the history of TV.
Artist's flocked to perform on the show. Aretha Franklin, James Brown, even Michael Jackson all sang on the program. Dancer's such as Rosie Perez, MC Hammer, Nick Cannon, and Fred (Rerun) Berry, got their start on the program. So did another fellow that had some pretty good moves himself, NFL running back Walter Payton.
As music tastes shifted more to rap, the influence of Soul Train waned. By 2006, the show's run ended, but his lasting effect on how we listed to music will never be forgotten. And he is our Person of the Week.
Back Sunday with another Top Ten List
We will talk soon
Jeff
credit Wikopedia with their help on this story
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