Cause Magazine It turned out to be a great vehicle for the emerging “Black is Beautiful” ethos. Back then, just wearing your hair in a natural style was a bold socio-political and fashion statement. On Saturday mornings you could tune in to “Soul Train” and see a screen full of big Afros, platform shoes and studded denim as the kids boogied and shimmied to the music of the likes of James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire and other acts less likely to get on "American Bandstand." It was its own mini-revolution, bringing funk and soul to the television airwaves for the first time. Cornelius always made sure the show had solid production values and he did much to increase the hiring of black professionals in the entertainment business. That included everything from grips and gaffers to directors and cameramen. That growing behind-the-camera presence was just as important back in the day as the success of the show itself. On a recent VH-1 documentary about the show, Cornelius recounted the time that James Brown came on the show and was so impressed, he repeatedly asked, “Don, who’s backing you on this?”Cornelius told him, "It's just me, James. But the King of Soul could hardly believe it, and kept asking, "No really, brother, who's behind you on this?” In those days, even for a “Black Power” advocate it was hard to believe that a show like that could succeed on its own without any input from the white corporate power structure. With its great music and performances, “Soul Train” attracted a sizeable crossover audience as well, although it always remained true to its original vision. In the mid-seventies, the show even welcomed Elton John and David Bowie to perform on its stage. The show always had a regular and loyal audience, and it was able to adapt to the many changes in the music industry over its 35 year reign. Over the years, R&B, Soul, Funk, Disco, Hip Hop and Rap all had a stop on the line. Cornelius stepped down as "Soul Train" host in 1993 when he felt his dapper “old school” persona was no longer right for the changing and somewhat grittier times. The show carried on until 2006, but for many it was never quite the same without Don on the mike. He continued to produce the “Soul Train Music Awards” which always included an entertaining mix of
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